Lifecycles and inheritance

Lifecycles and inheritance

Suggested Participants – Primary 5/6/7 pupils

Farmers keep a wide range of different livestock. All of today’s livestock originate from wild ancestors and have been selectively bred for specific characteristics. For example, cows have been selectively bred for beef production and for milk production. The two resulting types of cow are very different. This activity looks at where different farm livestock came from originally and how over time sheep and cows have been bred for specific characteristics.

What this pack contains: 

• All the links and content required to deliver our ‘Lifecycles and inheritance’ activity.

• Learning Intentions, Success Criteria and Suggested Experiences & Outcomes.

• Learning for Sustainability links.

• Lesson plan.

• Suggested additional activities.

Learning outcomes:

• We are learning about mammal life cycles.

• We are learning about the diversity of living creatures.

• We are exploring and categorising characteristics.

Success Criteria:

• I can construct a simple branched key.

• I can distinguish between inherited and non-inherited characteristics.

• I can discuss how creatures are suited to their environment.

Experiences and Outcomes

• SCN 2-01a I can identify and classify examples of living things, past and present, to help me appreciate their diversity. I can relate physical and behavioural characteristics to their survival or extinction.

• SCN 2-14a By investigating the life cycles of plants and animals, I can recognise the different stages of their development.

• SCN 2-14b By exploring the characteristics offspring inherit when living things reproduce, I can distinguish between inherited and non-inherited characteristics.

Learning for sustainability:

• Goal 4 Quality education: achieve literacy and numeracy.