Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Genetics: Mendel's 1st Law

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5-10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial for establishing a solid theoretical understanding before moving on to practical activities. By clearly defining the objectives, students will have a clearer view of what is expected of them and the skills they need to develop. This facilitates the connection between theory studied at home and practical applications in the classroom, maximizing the use of class time.

Main Objectives:

1. Understand Mendel's first law, distinguishing between dominant and recessive genes and how genetic inheritance occurs based on alleles received from parents.

2. Develop skills to calculate the probability of an offspring inheriting a specific genetic trait, considering knowledge about dominant and recessive genes.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage critical thinking and the application of genetic concepts in everyday situations to reinforce the practical relevance of studying genetics.

Introduction

Duration: (15-20 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan aims to engage students through problem-based situations that challenge them to apply their prior knowledge of genetics in a practical and contextualized manner. By presenting these scenarios, students are stimulated to think critically and visualize the relevance of studying genetics in real and fictional situations. The contextualization seeks to connect theoretical content with practical applications and curiosities, increasing students' interest and understanding of the subject.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine a family planning to have children and wants to know the chances of one of them inheriting the ability to roll their tongue, a trait that follows Mendelian inheritance. How would you calculate these probabilities, knowing that both parents may or may not be able to roll their tongues?

2. Consider a family tree where grandparents, parents, and children are all capable of rolling their tongues, but one of the grandchildren cannot do the same. How would you explain this situation using the concepts of recessive and dominant genes proposed by Mendel?

Contextualization

Mendel's first law, which describes the segregation of alleles during gamete formation, is fundamental not only for biology but also for understanding various aspects of heredity in humans and other species. Interestingly, many everyday hereditary traits, such as eye color, hair type, and even the ability to roll the tongue, follow the patterns established by Mendel. Furthermore, understanding these concepts helps in areas like medicine, where knowledge of genetics is essential for understanding hereditary diseases and developing targeted therapies.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The development stage is designed to allow students to practically and interactively apply the theoretical concepts studied at home regarding Mendel's first law. Through playful and contextualized activities, they will explore genetic inheritance in simulated scenarios that reflect the complexity and diversity of real hereditary situations. This approach not only facilitates learning but also stimulates critical thinking, collaboration, and mathematical reasoning, essential for understanding and manipulating genetic concepts.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Genetic Mystery of Mendel's Town

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply the concepts of Mendel's first law in solving practical genetic inheritance problems, developing skills in probability calculation and interpretation of family trees.

- Description: In this activity, students take on the role of genetic detectives in a fictional town where several families are worried about inheriting traits like the ability to roll the tongue, eye color, and hair type. Each group will receive a set of information about four different families and will have to use Mendel's first law to predict the probability of various specific traits appearing in the next generation.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the information kits, each containing a family tree, information about hereditary traits, and known genotypes of the parents.

• Ask each group to calculate the probability of a child being born with the recessive or dominant trait for each pair of parents presented.

• Students must present their conclusions and explain the reasoning used to determine the probabilities.

• Facilitate a classroom discussion to compare the strategies used by each group and review the correct answers.

Activity 2 - Alelo Fest

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Visually and interactively demonstrate the combination and segregation of alleles during reproduction, reinforcing the understanding of Mendel's first law.

- Description: Students will participate in an interactive simulation where each one represents a specific gene (dominant or recessive) for traits like eye color, hair texture, or the ability to roll the tongue. They will form 'gametes' and perform crossbreeding with other 'genes' to visually understand how alleles combine and segregate according to Mendel's first law.

- Instructions:

• Organize the classroom into stations representing different genetic traits (e.g., blue eyes station, curly hair station).

• Assign each student a role as an allele (dominant or recessive) for each trait.

• Students will form pairs to represent the formation of gametes and will perform crossbreedings, exchanging cards that represent the alleles.

• Each crossbreeding is recorded in a table to calculate the expected genotypic and phenotypic ratios.

• At the end, discuss with the class the discoveries made and how they align with Mendel's theory.

Activity 3 - Mendel's Heirs Challenge

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop problem-solving skills and apply genetic concepts in an investigative context, reinforcing the understanding of Mendelian genetics.

- Description: Students are challenged to solve a genetic puzzle that involves discovering the genes responsible for specific traits in a fictional family. They will need to use their probability calculation skills to help determine which traits are most likely to be inherited in the next generation.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Give each group a set of clues, which include genetic information about family members and observed traits.

• Students will need to use the clues to determine the genotypes of family members and calculate the probabilities of traits being inherited.

• Each group presents their findings and explains the reasoning behind the calculated probabilities.

• Conduct a collective review to verify the answers and discuss the challenges faced.

Feedback

Duration: (15-20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to consolidate learning through sharing experiences and debate. Group discussion allows students to articulate what they learned, clarify doubts, and better understand concepts through different perspectives. Additionally, this stage helps assess students' understanding of Mendelian genetics and the effectiveness of the activities conducted, ensuring that the learning objectives have been achieved.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, gather all groups for a collective discussion. Begin the discussion with a brief introduction, highlighting the importance of understanding Mendelian genetics for practical and scientific applications. Then invite each group to share their findings and main challenges faced during the activities. Encourage students to discuss the strategies used and explain how theory applied or did not apply to the observed results. Use this opportunity to reinforce key concepts and correct possible misconceptions.

Key Questions

1. What were the main concepts of Mendelian genetics that you applied during the activities?

2. How did understanding Mendel's first law help explain the genetic variations observed in the fictional families?

Conclusion

Duration: (5-10 minutes)

The purpose of the conclusion stage is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the content learned, linking theory with practice and highlighting the relevance of Mendelian genetic concepts in real contexts. This recap helps reinforce learning and prepares students to apply this knowledge in future situations, both academic and everyday.

Summary

To conclude the class, it is essential for students to have a clear and concise understanding of the main points addressed. Summarize Mendel's first law, emphasizing the segregation of alleles and how these determine dominant and recessive genetic traits. Recap the practical activities, highlighting the strategies used to calculate probabilities of genetic inheritance and the simulations that helped visualize the process of gamete formation and genetic crossbreeding.

Theory Connection

Explain how today's class connected the theory of Mendelian genetics with practice. Highlight how activities like 'Genetic Mystery' and 'Alelo Fest' allowed students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios and how this helps reinforce understanding and the importance of studying genetics in real life.

Closing

End the class by reinforcing the importance of Mendelian genetics in understanding how traits are inherited and how this knowledge is applicable in many aspects of life, from medicine to agriculture. Emphasize how the ability to predict possible genetic inheritance can be crucial in decisions such as medical treatments and family planning.