Gale Schools - Lesson Plans - Secondary - Science

Human Development

Title: Human Development

Grade Level: 9-12

Subject/Content: Science / Biology

Summary of Lesson: Students will be introduced to the process of sex cell formation, the uniting of these cells and the process of human development that follows.

Focus Question: How do two microscopic cells unite and then create an infant trillions of cells in size within nine months time?

Databases(s): Science Resource Center

Procedures:

Steps/Activities by teacher:

Initiate a class discussion that addresses the question of how a single unfertilized egg becomes an infant trillions of cells in size within nine months time.
Introduce the stages of meiosis I. Draw them out on the board as students copy them onto white paper. You will introduce meiosis II later in the lesson.
Pass out twelve pipe cleaners of at least six different colors to every pair students.
On a piece of white paper have each pair of students draw a large circle that fills up the paper, this will represent the outline of a cell during meiosis I. On the back they should draw two side by side circles that fill up the paper; this represents the outline of two cells simultaneously undergoing meiosis II.
Demonstrate and explain to the students that each pipe cleaner represents a DNA strand. By coiling the pipe cleaner around a pencil they can create a representation of a super coiled condensed sister chromatids. By laying the condensed sister chromatids across each other, they will create six whole chromosome.
Instruct them to now use the cell outline they drew on their paper and chromosome models they created to practice the stages of meiosis I with their partners.
Once you feel they have mastered meiosis I, introduce the stages of meiosis II. Draw them out on the board as students copy them onto their white paper.
Have them turn over the paper to the double cell side and practice the stages of meiosis II. Again circle tough the room questioning them about the stages.
Have the students continue to practice and then assess them orally with their partners for a grade. Randomly choose three stages of meiosis I or II and have them show them to you.
Have the students access the resource, "Meiosis." U*X*L Complete Life Science Resource. Ed. Leonard C. Bruno and Julie Carnagie. Detroit: U*X*L, 2001. Science Resource Center. Gale. 27 July 2006 located in the Gale Science Resource Center.
Hand out graph paper to the students and have them create a crossword puzzle that links the following terms: meiosis, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, oogenesis, spermatogenesis, mitosis, specialization, zygote, gamete, embryo, and fetus. The definitions should be the clues.
Show a video such as, “The Miracle of Life” as an introduction to the uniting of sex cells .
Assign each student in the class a week of fetal development to specialize in.
Have students search in Gale Science Resource Center for information on embryology and human development. Resources such as, "Embryo and embryonic development." U*X*L Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. Rob Nagel. 2nd ed. Detroit: U*X*L, 2001. Science Resource Center. Gale. 27 July 2006 in the Gale Science Resource Center will help them to collect information about their stage of human development.
Instruct the students to create a colored diagram that fills a white sheet of paper. Their drawing should portray what their stage of human development looks like at the week they have been assigned. They should also write a brief description on the bottom of the drawing explaining what is happening in their drawing.
Have the students stand up in succession and present their drawings as they post them chronologically in a space provided in the room.

Steps/Activities by student(s):

Participate in a class discussion about the lesson.
Copy the stages of meiosis, as your teacher draws them on the board, onto your white paper.
On a piece of white paper you and a partner should draw a large circle that fills up the paper and on the back draw two circles side by side that fill up the paper.
Create chromosome models by following your teacher’s demonstration.
Use the cell outline you drew and chromosome models you created to practice the stages of meiosis I with your partner.
Again copy down the stages of meiosis II this time onto your white paper as the teacher draws them on the board.
Turn over your paper to the double cell side and practice the stages of meiosis II.
Continue to practice as your teacher will assess you orally with your partner for a grade.
Access the resource, "Meiosis." U*X*L Complete Life Science Resource. Ed. Leonard C. Bruno and Julie Carnagie. Detroit: U*X*L, 2001. Science Resource Center. Gale. 27 July 2006 located in the Gale Science Resource Center.
Create a crossword puzzle on a piece of graph paper that links the following terms: meiosis, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, oogenesis, spermatogenesis, mitosis, specialization, zygote, gamete, embryo, and fetus. Your clues should be the definitions of the words.
Watch the video on the uniting of sex cells and human development .
After your teacher assigns you a stage of human development, search in Gale’s Science Resource Center for information on embryology and human development. Resources such as, "Embryo and embryonic development." U*X*L Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. Rob Nagel. 2nd ed. Detroit: U*X*L, 2001. Science Resource Center. Gale. 27 July 2006 will help you collect information about the stage of human development you have been assigned.
Create a colored diagram that fills a white sheet of paper that portrays what the development of a human looks like at the week you have been assigned. Also write a brief description on the bottom of the drawing explaining what is happening in your diagram.
Stand up when called and present your drawing as you chronologically hang yours in a space provided in the room.

Outcome: Students will be able to explain how human sex cells form, unite and develop into a trillion cell organism in nine months.

Related Activities: Teachers can purchase sea urchin development kits from local biological warehouses. After spawning the urchins you can collect sperm and egg cells and students can directly observe sex cell fertilization under the microscope.

Standard Date: December 1994

Content Standard(s):NS.9-12.3(C) The cell; Molecular basis of heredity; Interdependence of organisms; Behavior of organisms; NS.9-12.6 (F) Population growth; NS.9-12.7(G) Nature of scientific knowledge

Performance Indicators:

At Level 1, the student is able to:
- Use models to accurately demonstrate stages of meiosis
At Level 2, the student is able to:
- Apply terms of meiosis to create a crossword puzzle
At Level 3, the student is able to:
- Help in the construction of a classroom timeline model that portrays human development overtime

Computer Literacy and Usage Standards 9-12:

The student will demonstrate proficiency in the care and use of computer-based technology
The student will develop skills using a variety of computer resources to increase productivity, support creativity, conduct and evaluate research, and improve communications

ISTE NETS for Students

A2 Scientists usually inquire about how physical, living or designed systems functions; Scientific explanations must adhere to criteria such as a proposed explanation must be logically consistent; must abide by the rule of evidence; it must be open to questions and modification; and it must be based on historical and current scientific knowledge
C1 The cell
C2 Molecular basis of heredity
C4 Interdependence of organisms
C6 Behavior of organisms
F1 Personal and community health
F2 Population growth

Information Power; Information Literacy Standards:

Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively
Standard 2: The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently
Standard 3: The student who's information literate uses information accurately and creatively