Lesson 6.3: Genetic Variation

Variants in a population of starfish found in the Philippines

Starfish in Bohol (Philippines) by Roberto Verzo / CC BY 2.0

These Starfish are all members of the same species and population. Why do they look so different?

Essential Questions:

What is the source of variation in living things?

Lesson Sequence:

Complete these activities in order below each activity is a checklist of things that should be complete before moving to the next activity. Check them off as you complete them.

Lesson 6.3 Student Intro

• Place a circle around your understanding of the learning target for lesson #3

• Place a circle around your understanding of the Key Vocabulary (Genetic Variation)

6.3.1 Complete Variation in a Population Reading

• Complete the Variation in population reading
• Answer the questions about the variation in population
• Define Genetic Variation in the Key Vocabulary

6.3.2 Complete the Variation in a Population Lab

6.3.3 Formative Assessment

• Place a Triangle around your understanding of the learning target for Lesson #3 Place a Triangle around your understanding of the Key Vocabulary (Artificial Selection, Natural Selection)
• Take the formative assessment

Lesson 6.3 Learning Targets

Get a hard copy of this table from your teacher. Below are the learning targets you will master during this lesson.

As a pre-assessment, before the lesson begins, please circle the number that describes your current understanding of the learning target.

Before the formative assessment for this lesson, please draw a triangle around the number that describes your understanding of the learning target.

Before the summative assessment, please draw a square around the number that describes your understanding of the learning target.

Lesson 6.3 Vocabulary

Get a hard copy of this table from your teacher. Below are the vocabulary terms you will master during this lesson.

As a pre-assessment, before the lesson begins, please circle the number that describes your current understanding of the term.

You will complete the “Definitions” and “Extra Practice” (shaded gray*) as we progress throughout the unit.

Before each formative assessment, you will reassess your understanding of the terms. When instructed, please draw a triangle around the number that describes your understanding of the term.

Finally, at the end of the unit (before the summative assessment) you will make a final assessment of your understanding of the terms. When instructed, please draw a square around the number that describes your understanding of the term.