Bring Science Alive! Cells and Genetics Interactive Student Notebook Sample

N O T E B O O K

TRAITS

Traits for Survival OBSERVING PHENOMENA

Compare these four animal appendages.

crocodile

chicken

dog

human

1. How are the physical appearances of the appendages alike and different in their shapes and sizes?

2. How are the appendages used in different ways?

3. What is one unique feature of the human hand?

4. How do humans use their hands differently from the way the crocodile, chicken, or dog use their appendages?

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N O T E B O O K

Phenomenon: Humans have opposable thumbs, but turtles do not.

5. What questions do you have about this phenomenon?

I N V E S T I G AT I O N 1

1. Watch each video. List one or more physical or behavior traits for survival you observe.

Describe each trait. Then explain the function of the trait in helping the organism survive.

Organism

Traits

Function

Rattlesnake

Cheetah

Chameleon

Venus fly-trap

Hummingbird

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N O T E B O O K 1 - Organisms’ Survival

1. Fill in the Venn diagram below with some of the needs for survival for animals and plants.

2. Draw a line between each scenario and the vocabulary term that best fits.

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N O T E B O O K 2 - Physical Traits and Survival

1. Polar bears live in extreme conditions. Describe some of the physical traits that polar bears have to get what they need and avoid threats in their environment.

2. Circle two physical traits on this cactus.

3. Write a short description on how these two physical traits help the cactus to avoid predation, dehydration, starvation, or extreme temperatures.

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N O T E B O O K I N V E S T I G AT I O N 2

After you watch the video, answer the following questions about Madagascar.

1. Why are the plants and animals on the island of Madagascar so unique?

2. What did you learn from the video about the different kinds of environments in Madagascar?

3. Why do you think an organism’s traits might be related to the environment in which the organism lives?

4. As you visit each site, use the key to mark the letter of the location of the site on the map.

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N O T E B O O K 3 - Traits Inspire Design

1. Describe the problem that the engineers were trying to solve.

2. What trait was the engineering design inspired by?

3. What were the criteria and constraints of the problem facing the engineers. Write them in the grid below.

Criteria

Constraints

4. Name an organism whose traits might have inspired the design of these other cold temperature pieces of clothing. What specific trait inspired the design?

Winter Clothing

Picture

Organism that might have inspired the design

Trait that inspired the design

Fake fur coat

Wetsuit

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N O T E B O O K 4 - Behavioral Traits and Survival

Rattlesnakes have distinct behavioral traits that help them survive.

1. Describe one of the behavioral traits and why you think this trait helps the snake to survive.

I N V E S T I G AT I O N 3

1. Research a plant or animal that exists only in Madagascar. Write an information placard about the organism.

• Describe the environment in which the plant or animal lives.

• Identify the organism’s special traits. Explain how the traits help the organism survive in its environment.

• List your sources.

Name of Organism:

Environment in which it lives:

Special Traits:

Sources:

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N O T E B O O K

2. Add a star to the location on the map where the organism you researched lives.

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N O T E B O O K 5 - Environmental Influences on Traits

Two plants of the same type were grown in two different environments. One was grown on a windowsill with lots of sunshine. The other was grown in a dark area in the same room. They both received the same amount of water and other nutrients.

1. Draw your prediction of what the plant receiving sunlight would look like after three months.

2. Draw your prediction of what the plant grown in the dark would look like after three months.

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N O T E B O O K 6 - Passing on Traits to Offspring

Analyze the picture of the coyote mother and pup.

1. What physical traits do you see that might have been passed on from the mother to the pup?

2. What behaviors might this mother coyote teach her pup to help her to survive?

3. What might happen to the pup if the mother did not pass on these physical and behavioral traits?

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N O T E B O O K MAKING SENSE OF PHENOMENA

1. Choose an organism you studied in this lesson. Identify the environment in which it lives. Then identify a different environment and answer the questions.

Organism: Environment: New Environment:

2. Does the new environment provide all that the organism needs to survive?

3. Does the organism have the traits it needs to survive in the new environment?

4. Does the organism need traits that it doesn’t have to survive in the new environment?

5. Do you think the organism is likely to survive in the new environment? Put an X next to your best guess.

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Impossible

6. Explain your guess in the previous question.

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N O T E B O O K

Phenomenon: Humans have opposable thumbs, but turtles do not.

7. Use what you have learned to explain this phenomenon.

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