Unit Plan 7 (Grade 7 Science): Genes, Environment & Growth
Grade 7 life science unit where students use data and models to explain how genetic and environmental factors influence organism growth and variation.
Focus: Explain how environmental and genetic factors influence organism growth, using data, models, and evidence-based explanations.
Grade Level: 7
Subject Area: Science (Life Science — Growth & Heredity)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students extend their understanding that growth comes from cell division by asking why different individuals and organisms grow at different rates or to different sizes. They explore how both genetic factors (inherited instructions from parents) and environmental factors (such as nutrition, light, temperature, crowding, and access to resources) influence growth. Using real or simulated data, case studies, and simple investigations, students construct scientific explanations aligned to MS-LS1-5 that show how genes and environment interact to affect growth outcomes.
Essential Questions
- How do genetic factors (inherited traits) influence how an organism grows?
- How do environmental factors (nutrition, light, temperature, space, stress, etc.) influence growth?
- How can we tell from evidence whether differences in growth are mostly due to genes, environment, or a combination of both?
- How do we construct a scientific explanation that clearly links evidence and reasoning to claims about growth?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe genetic factors as inherited instructions that can influence potential patterns of growth (e.g., typical size range, growth rate).
- Identify environmental factors (e.g., nutrients, light, temperature, water, space, stress) that can support or limit organism growth.
- Analyze data sets (tables, graphs, case studies) comparing growth under different environmental conditions and/or across individuals with different genetic backgrounds.
- Explain, using examples and models, how genes and environment interact to influence growth (not one or the other alone).
- Construct a scientific explanation (in CER form) based on evidence that explains how environmental and genetic factors influence growth, addressing MS-LS1-5.
Standards Alignment — 7th Grade (NGSS-based custom)
- MS-LS1-5 — Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence growth of organisms.
- Students use data, investigations, and case studies to explain how genes set possibilities and environment shapes outcomes.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can explain what genetic factors and environmental factors are and give examples of each.
- I can read tables and graphs to see how different conditions affect growth.
- I can explain how both genes and environment influence how organisms grow.
- I can use evidence from data or investigations to support my ideas about growth.
- I can write a clear scientific explanation (CER) that links claim, evidence, and reasoning about how genes and environment influence growth.