Brittany Gilchrest

University of Houston
Science for ELLs
Name: Brittany Gilchrest

Basic Lesson Components

Grade Level: 4th

Time Estimate: 30 minutes (Day 1, Engage - Explain), 30 minutes (Day 2, Re - engage/Elaborate)

Science Content: Traits are characteristics or qualities of a person. Inherited traits are passed on
from the parents through a person's genes. Learned traits are characteristics that a person or animal
learns. The traits or characteristics that a plant or animal has have an influence on their ability to
survive and function in a community. Some traits animals learn in order to be successful in their
habitat such as hunting.

TEKS: 4.10B demonstrate that some likenesses between parents and offspring are inherited, passed
from generation to generation such as eye color in humans or shapes of leaves in plants. Other
likenesses are learned such as table manners or reading a book and seals balancing balls on their
noses

Content Objective(s):
TSW describe and give examples of inherited traits.
TSW describe and give examples of learned traits.
TSW describe how some traits help animals survive different circumstances.

ELPS:
(2) Cross-curricular second language acquisition/listening:
(E) use visual, contextual, and linguistic support to enhance and confirm understanding of
increasingly complex and elaborated spoken language;

(3) Cross-curricular second language acquisition/speaking.

(E) share information in cooperative learning interactions;

(4) Cross-curricular second language acquisition/reading.

(B) recognize directionality of English reading such as left to right and top to bottom;

(5) Cross-curricular second language acquisition/writing

(B) write using newly acquired basic vocabulary and content-based grade-level vocabulary

Language Objective (s):

c2C: Learn new language heard in classroom interactions and instruction,
c3E: Share in cooperative groups,
c4I: Show comprehension through basic reading skills,

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c5C: Spell familiar English words

Vocabulary: Definition: Cognate (T or F):

Trait A characteristic Rasgo (F)
Learned behavior A behavior/trait that you learn. Rasgo aprendido (F)

Inhertited Trait A trait that is passed on from your family Rasgo heredado (partial)
(Aquired) through your genes.
Misconceptions:
1. Being good at sports is inherited.
2. Children can inherit gifts/talents from their parents.

Materials/Resources/Technology Needs:
Materials: ISNs, Inherited trait/learned trait sort, Nark activity

Book: Inheritance of Traits: Why is My Dog Bigger Than Your Dog? by Jen Green

Technology: Computer for ClassDojo

Safety:
Students will walk as they transition and move around the classroom.

5E Instructional Procedures
Activity ELL Strategy Vocabulary

Engage 1. I will show a picture of my cat on the Think - pair - share inherited trait
promethean board and tell students that learned trait
her fur color is an inherited trait
however her ability to use a cat box is a
learned trait.
2. Ask students to identify a trait of
themselves that may be an inherited
trait.
3. Have students discuss this with each
other and explain their reasoning.
Explore 1. I will explain to students that they are Think - pair - share Traits
going to do a sort. I will show the two Quesioning
categories on the board and explain
that they will look at each card and
decide as a group which category it
belongs under.
2. Students will split off into groups.
3. Each group will be given a set of cards
and asked to sort them into two

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categories, inherited traits and learned

traits, based on their thoughts about the
meaning of the categories.
4. As students work in groups I will be
walking around asking students
questions about their work.
What do you think these
characteristics have in common?
How are they related to each other?
What do you think inherited traits
mean?
What do you think learned traits mean?
Explain 1. Students will go to the carpet. 4 window reflection Inherited traits
2. As a class we will do the sort on the Think - pair - share Learned traits
board.
3. Students will go to their desk and pull
out their science notebook.
4. I will show students how to create a 4
window reflection box and label it. I
will explain that the students will write
A in their own notebook. Then pass the
notebook around the table for B, C, and
D.
Elaborate1. Students will participate in a game that Guided reading Inherited traits
requires them to decide if/how a trait Problem solving Learned traits
helps them survive.
2. Students will receive the first two
pages, the instructions and the
recording sheets.
3. The teacher will read the beginning
information and directions aloud with
the students.
4. At the beginning of the game students
pick out 3 inherited trait cards and
these will be the same the whole game.
For each situation the students will be
able to pick a learned trait card.
5. The teacher will read each situation
and the students will decide whether or
not their traits will help them survive
and explain how.
Evaluate1. I will evaluate students understanding Think - pair - share
by observing them throughout the
lesson and reading the responses given
in the ISN.

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Resources:
Sort:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
Product/Acquired-and-Inherited-Traits-
Packet-Quiz-Activity-Study-Guide-
252610

Nark Activity: Dr. Domjan/ blackboard

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR COURSE CREDIT:

- DRAFT 1: Include all worksheets and printable manipulatives at end of lesson plan.
- DRAFT 2: Update all work, including worksheets and printable manipulatives using track
changes.
- DRAFT 3: Include evidence of classroom instruction AND copies of student artifact(s) collected
during instruction of this lesson.

DRAFT 1

What level of inquiry is your lesson? Explicitly how your lesson is formatted to follow the
identified level of inquiry.

The students are performing structured inquiry. I propose a question (what is

inherited/learned traits) and instruct students to do a sort and participate in discussion in
order to develop a definition for inherited and learned traits.

Which aspect(s) of the nature of science does your lesson address? Explicitly explain how
your lesson addressed the identified aspects.

My lesson addresses how creativity has a role in science. Students are asked to develop
ideas about how the Narks will survive in various situations. In order to do this students must
imagine the influence certain characteristics have.

How did you accommodate linguistically diverse students (ELLs) in this lesson? Why do
you think the strategies you selected will be beneficial to student learning?

I accommodate ELLs in this lesson by providing multiple opportunities to talk with

peers and by scaffolding science vocabulary

How did you integrate your students home cultures into this lesson?

I integrate my students home cultures into my lesson by encouraging students to make

connections to their own family and selves and build off of their prior knowledge. I do
this in the engage section by asking students about what characteristics they may have in.

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Draft 2:

Reflect upon the feedback received from your professor. Discuss how the
feedback impacted your lesson plan.

Identify small group members and feedback received from each during peer
teach. Discuss how the feedback impacted your lesson plan and anticipated instruction.

Final Draft (Draft 3):

Identify your cooperating teacher and feedback received regarding the

planning and implementation of this lesson. Discuss how the feedback impacted your
final lesson plan and how it will impact your future instruction.

Identify small group members and feedback received from each during
critical friends. Discuss how the feedback impacted this lesson plan and your future
instruction.

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Brittany Gilchrest

Directions: Print the card headers and the traits.

Sort the traits according to whether they are
acquired or inherited.

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Speaking
Riding a
English or
Skateboard Spanish

Hair Eye
Color Color
Color of a Learning to
Flower Read

Liking The Color

C lassical of a Dogs
Music Fur
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Height Freckles

Earlobes
Dimples ( Attached or
Detached)

Knowing the Having a

Alphabet favorite subject
in school

Birds Having a
favorite
Singing food
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Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors

Background information: You are all a member of a species known as Narfus cillius,
commonly known as the Narfs. Narfs are very intelligent creatures with many amazing abilities.
They are about 3 feet tall. They come in a variety of colors, but the two most common varieties
are blue and green. They live in rainforest environments. Remarkably, they have the ability to
learn skills very much like humans do. It is not uncommon to see them painting or playing
basketball. Narfs are typically gentle creatures, but are sometimes fierce when challenged by a
predator. Narfs are slow creatures, and they do not migrate unless forced out by unforeseen
circumstances. They typically stay in the lower branches of trees. Narfs are omnivorous and will
eat nearly anything. They have teeth very similar to human teeth. They prefer fruits from the
trees, but can also eat small animals. Small animals are sometimes difficult for them to eat if
their teeth are not extremely sharp.
Rules of the game: You will draw four inherited traits. These are traits that are part of your
DNA and cannot be changed. Once they are drawn, there is nothing you can do about it. For
each round, you may also draw one learned behavior. Perhaps this newly acquired skill will
allow for survival, perhaps not. A situation will be read to you. Based on the situation, you will
have to determine whether you will survive or not.
Traits:
Inherited traits Learned behavior
Situation 1:
Situation 2:
Situation 3:
Situation 4:

Situation 1:
Would your inherited traits help Why?
you survive? (yes or no)

Would your learned behavior Why?

help you survive?
(yes or no)

Is it likely that you would survive this situation?

______________________________________

Situation 2:
Would your inherited traits help Why?
you survive? (yes or no)

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Would your learned behavior Why?

help you survive?
(yes or no)

Is it likely that you would survive this situation?

______________________________________
Situation 3:
Would your inherited traits help Why?
you survive? (yes or no)

Would your learned behavior Why?

help you survive?
(yes or no)

Is it likely that you would survive this situation?

______________________________________
Situation 4:
Would your inherited traits help Why?
you survive? (yes or no)

Would your learned behavior Why?

help you survive?
(yes or no)

Is it likely that you would survive this situation?

______________________________________

SITUATIONS (Teacher reads):

Situation 1:

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All is well in the lush green rainforest. All narfs are enjoying a nice climate and abundant
food sources. All of a sudden, disaster strikes! A giant narf eating monster attacks! The
monster is scientifically knows as Killus narfus and commonly known as the sharp tooth.
The sharp tooth is far superior to other animals physically. It is extremely fast and very
strong. It can jump high enough to reach the lower branches of trees in a single leap. The
sharp tooth, as its name suggests, has very large sharp teaching for its carnivorous eating
habits. The teeth look similar to that of a lion. The sharp tooth does, however, have poor
eyesight. It can see mostly differences in color, but cannot make out shapes very well. It
has an average sense of smell, but impeccable hearing. The sharp tooth does have one
major weakness, music. Any music will put the sharp tooth immediately to sleep for long
periods of time.

Situation 2:
Unfortunately, things are not going well for the entire narf species. Human poachers have
been killing narfs for their incredibly soft fur. Many people enjoy narf fur coats, or even
narf skin rugs. The green narfs have been particularly targeted. The green narfs have
much softer fur. The poachers typically hunt with bow and arrow because guns will draw
attention to their illegal poaching practices. Some narfs have extremely thick skin, which is
difficult to penetrate with an arrow.
Situation 3:
Deforestation practices have been destroying the trees where narfs live and the fruits that
they commonly eat. Some narfs are able to change food sources, but most narfs are not fast
enough to catch live animals nor do they have sharp enough teeth. Some narfs have
learned to garden and grow food which has allowed for the survival of some, but not the
ones that do not know how to grow food.

Situation 4:
Many trees in the area where the narfs live have been destroyed. This has caused heavy
flooding due to high levels of rainfall. Before, the rainfall would have been regulated by the
dense trees and vegetation. This has caused pools of water to form in the area where the
narfs live. Some of these pools can be quite deep, 6 feet or more. There are some food
sources available at the bottom of these pools, so narfs that can dive or swim can easily get
this food.

Inherited traits (cut out)

Blue Fur Green Fur Extremely sharp teeth

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Human-like teeth Sharp claws No claws

Thick skin Thin skin Blue eyes

Brown eyes Able to digest meat Unable to digest meat

Long legs Short legs Long arms (more than 3-

ft)

Short arms (3 feet or Webbed toes Not webbed toes

less)

Large lung capacity (can Small lung capacity (can

hold their breath for only hold their breath for
more than 1 minute) less than 1 minute)

Learned Behaviors

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Playing Piano Gardening Swimming

Playing the ukulele Archery Painting

Sewing Fencing (sword fighting) Long distance running

Weight lifting Playing basketball Singing

Campfire Cooking Woodworking Parkour

Drawing Ride a unicycle Juggling

Ballet Dancing Good at Math Fast reader

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Playing guitar Knitting Nunchuck skills

Looking at the Data

Class Data Chart

How many What percent

students of the class is
survived? List this?
as a fraction
First Situation
Second Situation
Third Situation
Fourth Situation

Graph
Create a bar graph that shows what percent of students survived each of the
four situations.

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Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4

Conclusion Questions

1. Were you able to change any of your inherited traits at all in the game?
Why or why not?

2. Were there certain traits that seemed to help you survive better then others?

3. Were there certain situations that seemed easier for the class to have
survived then others? If so why do you think so?

4. Was it beneficial for you to be able to draw a new learned behavior for each
situation?

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Brittany Gilchrest

5. What is the main difference between a learned behavior and inherited traits?

Domjan, Emenaha, & Wong (2016)