Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Basic Genetics

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to establish a clear and objective initial understanding of the fundamental concepts of genetics and their practical applicability. These objectives will guide the subsequent activities, ensuring that students are prepared to actively participate and apply the knowledge acquired in practical situations.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the basic concepts of genetics and what it studies.

2. Learn to calculate the probability of a genetic trait being inherited, using practical examples such as blood type.

Side Objectives

1. Develop critical analysis and problem-solving skills when dealing with genetic issues.
2. Promote scientific curiosity and interest in the field of biology.

Introduction

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to engage students from the outset, connecting the theme of genetics to their daily lives and personal interests. Through research and sharing, students will start to actively engage with the subject, facilitating the transition to deeper discussions and practical activities in the continuation of the lesson.

Warming Up

Warm-up: 🧬

Genetics is the branch of biology that studies how characteristics are passed from parents to children. Understanding genetics helps us comprehend why we are the way we are and how certain diseases and traits are inherited. Ask students to use their phones to find an interesting fact about genetics. They will have 5 minutes to find and share with the class a fact that they consider surprising or fascinating.

Initial Reflections

1. What is genetics and what is its role in biology?

2. How are genetic traits inherited from parents to children?

3. What are some examples of traits that can be genetically inherited?

4. Why is it important to understand genetics in our daily lives?

5. How can genetics influence human health?

Development

Duration: 75 - 85 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to provide active and contextualized learning, where students can apply theoretical concepts of genetics in practical and modern situations. By using digital technologies and social media, students are encouraged to explore and communicate their findings in a creative and engaging way, consolidating knowledge through collaborative and playful activities.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Genetic Digital Detectives 🕵️‍♂️🧬

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Apply knowledge of genetics and inheritance probabilities in a creative and contextualized manner, developing analysis and digital communication skills.

- Description: Students become genetic detectives investigating a family mystery through social networks. They must use genetic information and probabilities to solve the case, documenting their findings in a digital storytelling format.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group will receive a digital 'case folder', which will include fictional social media profiles of family members and their known genetic traits (e.g., blood type, eye color, etc.).

• Ask students to analyze the profiles to identify possible patterns of genetic inheritance.

• Use recommended websites and apps to calculate probabilities of inheritance of specified traits.

• Groups must create a digital presentation (it can be a short video, a series of posts, or a slide presentation) telling the story of the investigation and their conclusions.

• Each group must present their case to the class.

Activity 2 - Genetic Influencer 📱🧑‍🔬

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Encourage the understanding of genetic concepts through the creation of digital content, also promoting communication skills and engagement with the audience.

- Description: Students take on the role of digital influencers who must create educational content about genetics for their followers. They can make posts, videos, or stories explaining genetic concepts and answering the most common questions from fictional followers.

- Instructions:

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

• Each group must choose a fictional social media platform (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) to create their content.

• Students should use their phones or computers to research examples of real influencers who talk about science and genetics.

• Groups must create a series of three short posts or a video explaining a genetic concept (such as inheritance of blood type or physical traits).

• Simulate interactions with 'followers' (other groups or the teacher may ask questions) and respond using scientific bases.

• Present their content to the class.

Activity 3 - Gamified Genetics 🎮🧬

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Utilize digital simulations to understand genetic inheritance processes and probabilities, as well as to develop decision-making and critical analysis skills.

- Description: Students play a digital genetic simulation game where they need to make decisions to 'create' a virtual population with specific traits. They will have to apply their knowledge to predict and influence genetic outcomes.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students and direct them to an online genetic simulation game (such as ExploreLearning Gizmos or PhET Simulations).

• Explain the rules and objectives of the game: students need to 'create' a virtual population with certain specific genetic traits.

• Groups must document their strategies and decisions throughout the game.

• After finishing the simulation, groups must analyze the results and explain how their choices influenced the characteristics of the population.

• Each group shares their findings and reflections with the class.

Feedback

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning and promote critical reflection on the activity carried out. The group discussion allows students to share their findings and perceptions, enriching collective understanding. The 360° feedback develops the capacity for self-assessment and provides students an opportunity to recognize and enhance their collaborative and communicative skills.

Group Discussion

👥 Group Discussion:

Promote a discussion among all students, where groups share what they learned from conducting the experience and their conclusions. Use the following script to introduce the discussion:

1. Introduction: 'Let's share what each group discovered about genetics and inheritance probabilities. This will help us learn from each other.'
2. Sharing: Ask each group to present a summary of their activity, highlighting the main learnings and conclusions.
3. Comparison: Ask students if they noticed similarities or differences between the groups' findings.
4. Application: Encourage students to discuss how these findings can be applied in the real world, such as in medicine and population genetics.

Reflections

1. What were the biggest challenges you faced when calculating genetic probabilities? 2. How did the use of digital technologies and social media help in understanding genetic concepts? 3. In what way do you think understanding genetics can impact your lives or future careers?

360° Feedback

🔄 360° Feedback:

Instruct students to conduct a 360° feedback stage, where each student will receive feedback from their group peers. Guide students to follow these guidelines for constructive and respectful feedback:

1. Focus on Skills: Comment on the skills that the peer demonstrated during the activity, such as analysis, communication, and teamwork.
2. Be Specific: Provide specific examples of behaviors or contributions that were helpful or could be improved.
3. Suggest Improvements: Offer concrete suggestions on how the peer can improve in future activities.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning, highlighting its relevance and practical application in the real world, in addition to providing a fun and engaging closure that reflects on the importance of the theme for students' daily lives.

Summary

📚 Fun Summary:

Imagine that genetics is like a cake recipe! Each gene is an ingredient that determines how each little cake (or person) will turn out. In this lesson, we explored how traits are passed down from generation to generation and even made calculations to predict how some of these traits may appear in future 'cakes'! 🧁🎲

World Connection

🌐 In Today's World:

In a world where social media is filled with information about health and personal traits, understanding genetics helps us interpret posts about DNA, ancestry tests, and even new scientific discoveries that appear on our timeline. It's like having a superpower to decipher the science behind every post! 💡

Practical Application

🔬 Applications:

Knowing genetics isn't just for scientists in labs; it's useful for all of us! From understanding the origin of our traits to knowing about genetic predispositions for certain diseases, genetics helps us make more informed decisions about our health and well-being. 🏥