Day 1Day 1What Makes You Who You What Makes You Who You Are? Are?

Recognize that traits of living things are both:•Inherited (color of hair, eye color).•Acquired and learned (having scars, riding a bicycle, etc.)

Every person is differentEvery person is different

We all have a combination of traits that we get from our parents or learn from the world around us. These different combination of traits is what makes each of us unique.

Inherited traitsInherited traits

Inherited traits are characteristics that we are born with. We inherit traits from our parents.

Some traits are passed on only through the mother or only through the father. Others are passed on depending on what traits are strongest between the parents.

Inherited traitsInherited traits

Some examples of traits that you can see…

Hair color and typeFrecklesDimples

Can you name some examples?

Activity: (Optional)Activity: (Optional)

Try to bend your thumb backwards.

Some people can form at least a 45 degree angle which is called a “hitchhiker’s thumb.”

Other people have straight thumbs which cannot bend in this way. This is an example of an inherited trait.

Which one do you have?

Inherited traitsInherited traits

Some examples of traits that you don’t see…

Allergies Diseases (diabetes, sickle cells anemia, etc.) Colorblindness

Investigation: Investigation: Task – students will take a survey on classmates’ inherited traits and produce graphs with the results.Examples of traits to survey:

◦ Height (short, average, tall)

◦ Skin color (light, medium, dark)

◦ Color of hair (light, medium, dark)

◦ Type of hair (straight or curly)

Day 2Day 2What Makes You Who You What Makes You Who You Are? (cont’d) Are? (cont’d)

Recognize that traits of living things are both:•Inherited (color of hair, eye color).•Acquired and learned (having scars, riding a bicycle, etc.)

Acquired and learned Acquired and learned traitstraitsAcquired traits are things that we learn. It is not always easy to tell which traits are inherited and which are acquired.

Some acquired traits come from observing family members or others around us…also called ‘learned’ traits.

Acquired/learned traitsAcquired/learned traits

Some examples of acquired/ learned traits…

Riding a bicycleHair lengthHaving scarsAthletic ability

Can you name some examples?

Acquired and learned Acquired and learned traitstraits

For example, if your parents play musical instruments, you may become interested in learning about music as well. This is not always the case though.

Perhaps your grandmother likes to cook but you will never be interested in cooking, or perhaps your dad plays golf but you would rather be a skateboarder.

Some more examples of ‘learned’ traits.

Activity: ‘Traits and Activity: ‘Traits and Traditions’Traditions’Traits can be inherited from a parent, or traits can be learned. Family and cultural traditions often influence learned traits.

Can you think of a trait you have inherited?

How about a trait that you have acquired by learning or tradition?

Play this game to discover some common traits and traditions!

Day 3Day 3What Makes You Who You What Makes You Who You Are? Are?

• A combination of both: Inherited traits and acquired/learned traits

• Environmental factors contributing to changes in traits

WORK IN PROGRESS

A combination of bothA combination of both

Some traits may be a combination of both, inherited and acquired.

Sometimes we start out with an inherited trait that we develop because of what we learn. For example, you may have inherited intelligence from your mom, but it is up to you to use your intelligence to do well in school.

Some people are born with a calm, quiet personality and some people are more outgoing and energetic. A calm, quiet person can be pleasant and a good listener.

An outgoing, energetic person can be entertaining to others. But both of these people can also have problems if they don’t work with their traits in a positive way. A quiet person can become shy and awkward and an outgoing, energetic person can demand too much attention and forget about others.WORK IN PROGRESS

Environmental factors Environmental factors contributing to changes in contributing to changes in traitstraitsEvolve to

surviveAdaptation

WORK IN PROGRESS

Investigation: A trip to Investigation: A trip to AfricaAfricaTask – students will

WORK IN PROGRESS

VocabularyVocabularyTraitsInherited traitsHereditaryAcquired traits