Asexual And Sexual Reproduction Lesson Plan for 8th Grade Example Students

Topic: Asexual and Sexual Reproduction

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will understand the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction, and will be able to identify examples of each.

Materials

• Handout defining asexual and sexual reproduction
• Examples of each (e.g. a plant growing from a seed is an example of asexual reproduction, while a man and woman having a baby is an example of sexual reproduction)

Warm-up

• Have students stand up and stretch, then ask them to partner up with someone of the opposite sex.
• Ask them to discuss the following questions:
• How do people usually have children?
• What are some different ways that animals have babies?
• What are some different ways that plants have babies?

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of asexual and sexual reproduction.
• Asexual reproduction refers to a type of reproduction in which an organism produces a clone of itself, with no genetic mixing with another organism.
• Sexual reproduction refers to a type of reproduction in which an organism combines genetic material from two different parents to produce an offspring that is genetically different from its parents.
• Use the handouts to provide examples and clarify the concepts of asexual and sexual reproduction.
• Ask students to name some organisms that reproduce asexually and sexually.

Guided Practice

• Divide students into small groups and provide each group with one of the provided microscopes.
• Have students use the microscopes to observe asexually-reproducing organisms (e.g. bacteria, algae, etc.) and sexual-reproducing organisms (e.g. plants, insects, etc.).
• Have students share their observations and discuss the differences and similarities between the organisms they observed.

Independent Practice

• Provide students with a copy of the provided worksheet. Have students complete the worksheet independently or in small groups.

Closure

• Review the key concepts of asexual and sexual reproduction including the different methods and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Ask students to share any additional insights or questions they have about asexual and sexual reproduction.

Assessment

• Observe students during the guided and independent practice activities and take note of their understanding of the material.
• Collect and review the project proposals and presentations to assess students' ability to conduct independent research and present their findings.