Name: ______________________________ Period: ___________ Date: _______________

2.1 Introduction to Traits 

 
Activity #1: Do NOW K-L Chart
K= Know​: L= Learned:
2 things I already know about traits, genes, DNA 2 things I learned about traits, ghenes, DNA from
are... the ​Traits video ​ are...

1._______________________________________ 1._______________________________________
_________________________________________ ________________________________________

2._______________________________________ 2._______________________________________
_________________________________________ ________________________________________

3._______________________________________
_______________________________________

 
Activity #2: Warm Up R
​ ead the comic strip and answer the questions below:

1
 Name: ______________________________ Period: ___________ Date: _______________
Activity #3: Read It! ​Natural Selection 
​Natural selection​ means that the CATCH Annotate CFS
inherited traits of a ​population​ change over time. ❏ Highlight one keypoint from
Inherited traits​ are features that are passed from each paragraph.
one generation to the next. For example, your eye ❏ Circle 1-2 unknown/vocab
color​ is an inherited trait. You inherited your eye words from each paragraph
❏ Ask 1 question OR make 1
color from your parents. Inherited traits are different
connection
from ​acquired traits​, or traits that organisms
❏ Answer ​Thinking Questions
develop over a lifetime, such as strong ​muscles
from working out. 1. ​ What is ​Natural Selection? 
Human earlobes may be attached or free. You inherited the particular shape _______________________________
of your earlobes from your parents. Inherited traits are influenced by ​genes​, which _______________________________
are passed on to offspring and future generations. Things not influenced by genes
______________________________
are not passed on to your offspring. ​Natural selection only operates​ on traits
that are genetically passed down, like earlobe shape, not on traits that are What's the difference between 
2. ​
acquired, like a summer tan. an ​acquired​ and ​inherited trait?​  
Natural selection explains how organisms in a ​population​ develop traits that Give an example of each.
allow them to survive and reproduce. Natural selection means that traits that offer _______________________________
an advantage will most likely be passed on to offspring; individuals with those traits
_______________________________
have a better chance of surviving. Evolution occurs by natural selection.
_______________________________
Take the giant tortoises on the Galápagos Islands as an example. If a
short-necked tortoise lives on an island with fruit located at a high level, will the _______________________________
short-necked tortoise survive? No, it will not, because it will not be able to reach _______________________________
the food it needs to survive. If all of the short necked tortoises die, and the ______________________________
long-necked tortoises survive, then, over time, only the long-necked trait will be
passed down to offspring. All of the tortoises with long-necks will be "naturally
3. ​ What is an adaptation?
​
selected" to survive. Organisms that are not well-adapted, for whatever reason, to _______________________________
their environment, will naturally have less of a chance of surviving and _______________________________
reproducing.
_______________________________
Every plant and animal depends on its traits to survive. Survival may include 4.​ What does natural selection 
getting food, building homes, and attracting mates. Traits that allow a plant,
animal, or other organism to survive and reproduce in its environment are called
operate on?
adaptations. _______________________________

Imagine how in the ​Arctic​, dark fur makes a rabbit easy for foxes to spot and _______________________________
catch in the snow. Therefore, white fur is a beneficial trait that improves the ______________________________
chance that a rabbit will survive, reproduce, and pass the trait of white fur on to its How many ​species​ are there on 
5.​
offspring (Figure ​below​). Through this process of natural selection, dark fur rabbits the planet​? Why are there so 
will become uncommon over time. Rabbits will adapt to have white fur. In essence,
the selection of rabbits with white fur - the beneficial trait - is a natural process.
many species? 
_______________________________
_______________________________
Why So Many ​Species​?
_______________________________

2
 Name: ______________________________ Period: ___________ Date: _______________

Scientists estimate that there are

between 5 million and 30 million ​species​ on
the planet. But why are there so many?
Different species are well-adapted to live and
survive in many different types of
environments. As environments change over
time, organisms must constantly adapt to
those environments. ​Diversity ​of species
increases the chance that at least some
organisms adapt and survive any major
changes in ​the environment​. For example, if a natural disaster kills all of the large
organisms on the planet, then the small organisms will continue to survive.

 
 
Activity #4: Complete the following items: 
1. Finish your Natural Selection Quiz Chapter 1 on Illuminate

2. Look at the comic strip student samples from previous years posted on Google
Classroom

3. Work on your comic strip project

a. You will be picking an animal/flower/plant/tree you like
b. Identify an adaptation or an adaptive trait that it has and write a comic strip
story.
i. Not sure? Do a quick research about the animal/plant you selected.
Google search “adaptations of ______” and think about how you
could use that information in a comic strip story. (EXAMPLE: cactus
has spines to protect it from predators)
c. Explain how this adaptation helps this animal/plant survive better/stay
away from predators
d. Write a comic story about it ​2 PAGES minimum
e. Add color/drawings and make sure it is neat

Done early?: ​Work on an Achieve Article/iReady/DreamBox/Moby Max