Heredity
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe what is meant by heredity and why offspring usually look similar to their parents.
Key learning points
- Reproduction (having offspring) is part of the life cycle of all organisms.
- When organisms reproduce they make offspring of the same kind (species resemblance).
- Heredity is the process of organisms passing on features to their offspring.
- Offspring inherit features from both parents, so they look similar to them and one another (family resemblance).
- Usually offspring vary and are not identical to their parents or one another (except for identical twins).
Keywords
Reproduction - Reproduction is the process of making offspring.
Offspring - The offspring of a living organism are the young produced following reproduction.
Inherit - Offspring inherit a combination of features from both their parents.
Heredity - Heredity is the process of passing features from individuals to offspring, through reproduction.
Variation - Differences between individuals of the same species are called variation.
Common misconception
Offspring (esp. daughters) inherit all features from mum; parents can control inherited features.
Show examples of offspring inheriting features from both parents. Inherited features that are inherited in genetic material, not chosen.
Teacher tip
Avoid talking about DNA. Talk about how genetic material is passed down in reproduction from both parents and this gives the features. Environmental and lifestyle factors come later.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Choose the name of the common process where living organisms produce young.
Q2.Reproduction produces the next generation of all living organisms. Choose the correct scientific word to describe what is produced during reproduction.
Q3.Choose the best statement which describes why offspring look similar to their parents.
Q4.This is an image of the smallest living unit in a living organism. What is it called?
Q5.Which part of the cell stores the genetic material?
Q6.The information stored in the genetic material is used to control ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The process in all living organisms that produces offspring is called...
Q2.When do the offspring of living organisms look similar to the adult?
Q3.Who will a human baby girl directly inherit features from?
Q4.Choose the correct option to describe why the offspring of the same parents (siblings) look similar but not identical.
Q5.Offspring of the same parents (siblings) different combinations of features from their parents.
Q6.The process of inheriting features from your parents is called...
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: Heredity, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: Heredity, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Heredity and DNA unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.