Unit Plan 24 (Grade 7 Science): Environmental Effects on Traits

Focus: Explain how environmental factors (nutrition, light, temperature, stressors) interact with genes to influence traits and growth, and use models to show how both genetic changes and environmental conditions can affect proteins and observable characteristics.

Grade Level: 7

Subject Area: Science (Life Science — Growth, Inheritance & Variation)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students explore how genes and environment work together to shape traits and growth. Building on previous learning about genes, proteins, mutations, and variation, they compare traits that are strongly influenced by genes with traits that are highly influenced by environment, as well as traits shaped by both. Through models, data sets, and case studies, students investigate how nutrition, light, temperature, crowding, and other environmental conditions can change growth patterns or trait expression—even when genetic information stays the same. They also revisit mutations as gene changes that may alter proteins and traits, and consider how environmental conditions can make these changes harmful, beneficial, or neutral, aligned with MS-LS1-5 and MS-LS3-1.

Essential Questions

• How do genetic factors and environmental factors each influence growth and traits in organisms?
• Why might two organisms with similar genes look or grow differently in different environments?
• How can we use models and data to explain when a trait difference is mostly due to genes, mostly due to environment, or a combination of both?
• How can environmental conditions change whether a gene change (mutation) is harmful, beneficial, or neutral for an organism?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Define genetic factor and environmental factor and identify examples of each for common traits and growth patterns.
2. Analyze data (tables, graphs, or descriptions) showing how changes in environmental conditions (e.g., light, water, nutrients, crowding) affect growth in plants or animals with similar genetic backgrounds.
3. Develop and use models to show how genes provide instructions for proteins, while environmental inputs influence how growth and traits appear in real organisms.
4. Use case studies to construct scientific explanations for how both genes and environment influence traits, explicitly referencing evidence from models or data.
5. Explain, using models and scenarios, how gene changes (mutations) can interact with different environments to produce harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects on traits, aligned with MS-LS3-1.

Standards Alignment — 7th Grade (NGSS-based custom)

• MS-LS1-5 — Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
  • Students use plant/animal growth data under different conditions and explain patterns in terms of genes + environment.
• MS-LS3-1 — Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects.
  • Students revisit mutation models and analyze how environmental context changes the impact of altered proteins and traits.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can explain the difference between genetic factors and environmental factors and give examples of each.
• I can interpret growth data or case studies to explain how changing the environment changes traits or growth patterns.
• I can use a model to show that genes give instructions for proteins and traits, but environment can affect how those traits show up or how much organisms grow.
• I can explain how a mutation can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral depending on the environment.
• I can write a clear scientific explanation that uses evidence to show how both genes and environment influence traits.