P.S. 211 Fall 2023 STEM Newsletter (3rd Grade)

Inheritance and Traits

Third Grade Biologists have been exploring their first science unit by gathering evidence from texts, investigating and collecting data using digital simulations, developing models and discussing their ideas with classmates.

In this unit, students will investigate why Wolf 44 does not look like the rest of the wolves from his pack. To learn more about Wolf 44, students will explore the following big ideas:

organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death
plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms
traits can be influenced by the environment
variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing

We encourage you to ask your 3rd Grade Biologist about what they are learning in class!

What are some of the traits of Wolf 44 that are similar to his pack?
What are some of the traits of Wolf 44 that are different from his pack?
What is a trait that could be influenced by the environment?
Give an example of a trait that could help an animal to survive.

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Important Vocabulary Within This Newsletter:

Biologist
Trait
Inherit
Gene
Variation
Similar
Investigation
Evidence
Organism
Species
Pattern
Mission
Life
Cycle
Offspring
Reproduce