28

Lesson 28 of 84 ยท Cells

Experimentโญ 30 XP๐ŸŒฟ Wild Jungle

Mutations and Variation (Part 2)

๐ŸงชLab Brief #28

Mutations and Variation (Part 2).

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

โšก The twist

Living things break the rules of non-living things โ€” find the rule they break.

๐Ÿคฏ

Mind = Blown

๐ŸŒณ Trees can talk to each other through underground fungus networks.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: what will happen to the plant if you change the water?

What You'll Learn

Genetic variation within a population is essential for evolution. Variation comes from mutations, sexual reproduction, and gene flow between populations.

Key Words

  • trait
  • dominant

Materials Needed

  • index cards
  • markers
  • ruler
  • scissors

Safety First

  • Wear safety goggles when mixing liquids.
  • Wash hands after handling materials.
  • Be careful with scissors โ€” ask an adult for help if needed.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Review the background information on Cells before starting.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Prepare a wet-mount slide of an onion skin and observe it under a microscope (or magnifying glass). Draw and label the cell wall, cell membrane, and nucleus.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What does DNA stand for?

๐ŸŒ

Where you see this in real life

This is why plants grow toward windows and why scabs form.

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Watch a plant or pet for 5 minutes today and write down what you noticed.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œTell me something you noticed about your own body today.โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

๐Ÿ”ฌShare card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Checkout complete lesson on Cells for 6th Grade

Get the full Cells track as a printable PDF โ€” all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

View in Shop

Your Cart (0)

Your cart is empty

Browse our shop to find activities your kids will love