South Dakota Science 3-LS3-2
The Standard
Use evidence and reasoning to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment. (SEP: 6; DCI: LS3.A, LS3.B; CCC: Cause/Effect)
South Dakota Science Standards (2024) · Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students compare plants grown under different conditions, such as sunlight and darkness. They use what they observe to explain how a growing condition may affect a plant's traits.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student notices that a sunlit bean plant has green leaves while a dark-grown bean plant has pale leaves. They use that difference as evidence that light may affect leaf color.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think leaf color is fixed when a seed forms, so light cannot affect it. They may point out that one plant is pale without explaining how its growing conditions could be a cause.
How to Assess It
- Give students this exit ticket: 'Two bean plants got equal water. One grew in sunlight and has green leaves. The other grew in darkness and has pale leaves. How might light explain the difference? Use one observation as evidence.'
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs photos of bean plants grown with equal water but different light; have them count pale leaves and record the totals.
Ask, 'Why might these bean plants have different leaf colors?' Have students use the light labels and photos in their answers.
Play evidence match: give groups cards with plant photos, growing conditions, and claims; have them pair each claim with supporting evidence.
Show photos of basil grown on a sunny windowsill and basil grown in a dim room; ask students to compare the leaves.
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Printable 3-LS3-2 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- K-ESS2-2
Engage in argument from evidence for how plants and animals (including humans) can change the environment to meet their needs.
- 3-LS4-2
Use evidence and reasoning to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in...
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