Reproduction and Genetics (5-8)

Regulation and Behavior advances understanding and effective teaching about how organisms get what they need in order to survive and thrive.

Course Objectives

• Identify how and why cells divide, and how specialized cells develop
• Examine the relationship between DNA, genes, and chromosomes
• Explore DNA replication and protein synthesis
• Explore genetic mutation
• Examine approaches to teaching these topics, including surfacing prior knowledge and use of models

Course Syllabus

Session 1: Cellular Reproduction and Development
Investigate the mechanisms that enable organisms to reproduce and develop and observe how environmental factors can influence these two important processes. Teaching and learning strategies focus on techniques for uncovering prior knowledge.

Session 2: DNA and Heredity
Explore the role DNA plays in determining an organism's traits and learn how genetic differences create variability within a species. Teaching and learning strategies focus on techniques for making the abstract more accessible to learners.

Additional Course Information

• 15 contact hours
• Third in a series of four courses for teachers of middle school life science
• Other courses in the series:
  • 1st course: Structure and Function ^‡
  • 2nd course: Regulation and Behavior ^‡
  • 4th course: Natural Selection and Applied Genetics
  • ^‡recommended before taking this course
• A full survey course (45 contact hours), Teaching Middle School Life Science, is also available.

We recommend course modules be taken in order. If this is not possible, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the content and methodology described in the preceding courses.

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