Looking for a more RIGOROUS reproduction activity? Students will practice SCIENCE GRAPHING SKILLS and answer questions in the CLAIMS-EVIDENCE-REASONING format as they extend their learning about asexual and sexual reproduction!
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There are TWO graphing activities included. They can be used together or entirely independently from each other. The format of each activity is the same:
- Students read a brief background information passage.
- Students do simple math to complete a column in a data table from the provided information.
- Students make a graph from the provided data.
- Students answer a question in the claims-evidence-reasoning format using evidence from the data table and graph.
Included Reproduction Graphing Activities:
- Graphing Population Growth (line graph): Students will follow simple instructions to calculate (easy math!) the growth factor of a fruit fly (sexual) population and a bacteria (asexual) population. They will graph the growth factor versus time for each population. Using the data and graph, students make a claim from evidence to answer the question, Which type of reproduction, sexual or asexual, occurs more quickly?
- Graphing Trait Variation (bar graph): Students will follow simple instructions to calculate (easy math!) the variation index of two groups of strawberry plants, one that reproduces sexually and the other that reproduces asexually. Using the data and graph, students make a claim from evidence to answer the question, Which type of reproduction, sexual or asexual, produces more variation in offspring?
Through these activities, students will discover FOR THEMSELVES that:
- Asexual reproduction allows for quicker population growth.
- Sexual reproduction results in greater trait variation in offspring.
Teacher Notes:
- Answer keys included.
- Please note: this reproduction activity is not editable.
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Related Standard:
- NGSS MS-LS3-2: Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation.
