Genetics Discussion Prompts and Pause Points

Before the Movie:

Why do people in the same family sometimes resemble each other? (Tap prior knowledge; Identify cause/effect)

What does it mean for a trait to be inherited? (Tap prior knowledge) 

During the Movie (Pause Points):

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 1:46: How did ancient farmers use artificial selection to grow a larger fruit crop? (Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 3:10: Why did Mendel believe traits were passed down in separate units? (Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 4:01: Why do reproductive cells have half as many chromosomes as other types of cells? (Draw conclusions; Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 7:05: What would be the reproductive likelihood of an organism with a beneficial mutation, compared to one with the usual genes? How could this influence the species over time? (Compare/contrast; Predict)

After the Movie:

Look at the four related movies at the bottom of the page. Explain how each is connected to the Genetics topic. (Make connections)

How are scientists’ knowledge and control of genes useful? (Draw conclusions)

BrainPOP recommends reading the movie description that appears on the Genetics Topic Page to your class or have students read independently. Then have them watch the movie once through without pausing. Then, watch it again as class, this time using the discussion prompts.

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.