6 Growth and Development Unit overview During this unit, students consider how different animals, both invertebrate and vertebrate, reproduce, and how traits are passed from parents to offspring. Topics for discussion include the human life cycle and the spectrum of changes that occur during life.
Adolescence is a time of rapid change and development.
Opportunities for students to discuss change in their lives and see it as a normal occurrence experienced by all maturing organisms are important. Science writing and reading activities, as discussed in this Guide, should be incorporated into each lesson. Writing reports, letters and stories are only three ways through which students may refine their understanding of the concepts of science and develop their ability to communicate through the written word. Examples of activities which contain writing or reading components are found in the Suggested activities section of this unit. Science challenge , as described in this Guide, is meant to extend students' critical and creative thinking abilities in the context of the science concepts being studied.