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Traits and Reproduction

Lesson 1.3: Surprising Spider Silk

Lesson purpose: to help students visualize how the structure of proteins can determine an organism's traits�

Please refer to this lesson’s Materials & Preparation section in the digital Teacher’s Guide or the print Teacher’s Guide for information about preparing to teach this lesson, including any applicable safety notes. Below are links to resources used in this lesson.

Surprising Spider Silk �Printable Article Set: Surprising Spider Silk

Active Reading Guidelines

Annotation Tracker Instructions

Annotation Tracker

Annotation Tracker Summary Sheet

Example Annotation Tracker and Summary Sheets

Silk Protein Model Reference

Silk Strand Model Reference

Modeling Protein Molecules copymaster

Traits and Reproduction Investigation Notebook, pages 11–15

Traits and Reproduction Glossary

Traits and Reproduction Multi-Language Glossary

Note: These materials are made available exclusively for use by students and teachers for whom the corresponding materials have been purchased or licensed from Amplify. Any alterations you make should only be shared within your own school or district. Any other distribution or reproduction of these materials is forbidden without written permission from Amplify.

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Warm-Up

Activity 1

5 MIN

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

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Investigation Notebook pg 12

Activity 1

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

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Activity 1

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

In the last lesson, we watched a video featuring a real scientist who studies spider traits.

We will now watch a follow-up video about how scientists study spider silk.

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Active Reading:

Surprising Spider Silk

Activity 2

15 MIN

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

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Activity 2 - Screen 1

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Remember that we are investigating differences in the silk flexibility trait of a spider family.

In the previous lesson, we investigated differences in traits by observing the cells of different spiders in the Sim.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

Today, we will be investigating this question:

Investigation Question: �What determines an organism’s traits at the molecular scale?

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

Today, you are going to read a short article that will help you understand some of the important things that scientists already know about variation in spider silk.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

First, let’s review how to use the features of the Amplify Library.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

You’ll select one of four articles to read and annotate independently. Partners should read the same article so you can share your annotations. First, let’s read the introduction together.

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Activity 2 - Screen 1

👉Teacher action (Option 1):

Open the Surprising Spider Silk article and read the title and first sentence out loud as students follow along.
Say, “This sentence uses the term specialized cells, which is a term I am unfamiliar with. If I reread the sentence, I see that it is talking about the special job that these cells perform.”
Say, “I think the word specialized may relate to the word special, but the word also might mean something a bit different. I am going to highlight this word and later discuss it with my partner.”
Highlight specialized. Press ADD NOTE and write, “The same as special?”
Continue reading through the end of the introduction. If time permits or if this is students’ first Amplify Science unit, further model Active Reading, making sure to highlight any additional words or sentences students might find confusing.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

I'll read the title and the first sentence of the introduction out loud.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

The word specialized is unfamiliar.

I can highlight it and leave a note so I remember to discuss it with a partner later.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

Let’s finish reading the introduction together.

👉Teacher action:

Continue reading through the end of the introduction. If time permits or if this is students’ first Amplify Science unit, further model Active Reading, making sure to highlight any additional words or sentences students might find confusing.

Article reference:�These long protein molecules connect to form an amazing material: spider silk.

Spiders use their silk to build strong webs, to trap bugs, to save themselves from falling, to wrap their eggs safely, and even to glide through the air. How can one material—spider silk—be used for so many different functions? Different uses for spider silk are possible because not all spider silk is the same: there are many variations, or differences, in spider silk. This is because there are different features of spider silk, such as strength, stickiness, stretchiness, and color. For each of these features, there are several possible traits. For example, for the feature of silk color, a spider might have the trait of making gray, white, or even golden-colored silk.

Spiders have different traits for each feature because of differences in the protein molecules that make up the silk. The cells of different spiders make different kinds of protein molecules, and these molecules combine to make different kinds of silk. This means that the kind of protein molecules a spider makes for a feature determine its trait for that feature. The spider pictured above makes specific protein molecules for the silk color feature. These protein molecules result in golden-colored spider silk.

To learn more about some amazing spider silks and the proteins that make them that way, read one or more of the chapters that follow.

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Investigation Notebook pg 13

Activity 2 - Screen 1

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

Next, you will look over your annotations and choose some to discuss.

Let’s talk about the different hashtags you’ll use to select your annotations.

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Discussing Annotations

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

Step 1: Prepare to Share

Step 2: Discuss

Step 3: Prepare to Present

Choose an interesting question or connection to share with a partner.

Tag it with #share.

Talk about your chosen annotation with a partner.

Tag it with #discussed if you were able to resolve your questions.

Choose an interesting or unanswered question to present to the class.

Tag it with #present.

#share

#discussed

#present

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

Let’s discuss your annotations.

What interesting or unanswered questions do you still have about the article?

What connections did you make to the article?

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 1

The protein molecules that make up the silk allow the spiders to do many different behaviors that can increase the odds of survival and reproduction.

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Vocabulary

Activity 2 - Screen 2

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

a type of large molecule that performs important functions inside organisms

protein �molecule

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 2 - Screen 2

This model of a protein looks different than the model in the Sim. It shows the more realistic, three-dimensional shape of a protein.

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Investigation Notebook pg 13

Activity 2 - Screen 3

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Choose the article you read and review your annotations.

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Building Physical Models of Proteins

Activity 3

25 MIN

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

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Activity 3 - Screen 1

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

You just read about the types of silk that different spiders can make. Now, we’ll use a model to learn how protein molecules determine silk flexibility in Darwin’s bark spiders.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 1

Remember, we are investigating this question:

Investigation Question:�What determines an organism’s traits at the molecular scale?

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 1

Scientists use models to represent things on the molecular scale, which are difficult to observe.

In the Sim, we saw this model of protein molecules.

protein molecules

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 1

Today, we will use a physical model to learn more about the structure of protein molecules and how they connect to each other.

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Vocabulary

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 1

the way something is shaped or constructed

structure

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 1

In science, when we describe the structure of an object, we describe its shape.

For example, this wheel has a circular structure.

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Activity 3 - Screen 2

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 2

Each group will receive one bag containing three models of silk protein molecules.

You will discuss ideas as a group and record your ideas independently.

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Investigation Notebook pg 14

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 2

Complete Part 1.

Discuss your ideas in your group but record your ideas on your own sheet.

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Part 2: Building and Comparing Silk Strands

Investigation Notebook pg 14–15

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 2

Build

Connect

Record Observations

Build two additional models of each protein molecule so you have three protein molecules of each type.

For each type of protein, try to connect the protein molecules to form silk strands. You must use all of a molecule’s connectors to form a strand.

Complete the table. In the middle column, indicate if each type of protein molecule could form a silk strand. In the last column, sketch and describe each silk strand.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 2

Each group will receive a second bag of materials to build silk strands.

You will record your observations in the data table and compare the flexibility of protein strands.

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Investigation Notebook pgs 14–15

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 2

Complete Part 2.

After you complete the table, remember to record your answer to the question about the flexibility of the strands.

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Vocabulary

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 3

how something works

function

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 3

A wheel illustrates both structure and function. Wheels roll across surfaces and can help move other objects. The structure of a wheel allows it to serve this function.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 3

What did you notice about the function of the protein molecules in the model?

Did they all serve the same function?

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Investigation Notebook pg 15

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 4

Discuss the questions with your group.

Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.

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Key Concept

Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 4

1.

The function of a protein molecule depends on its structure and how it interacts with other protein molecules.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

Activity 3 - Screen 4

Keep one of each type of protein connected and disassemble the rest.

Place the proteins in one bag and the pieces in another bag.

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Traits and Reproduction: Lesson 1.3

End of Lesson

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