MENSA Education & Research Foundation
Peas in a Pod: Genetics
Can peas have grandparents? Learn about inherited traits and heredity with a set of activities focused on Mendelian genetics. As your class learns about the process of passing traits along in Punnett squares, they take on the role of...
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Taster of Non-Taster?
Students investigate their own inherited traits by using taste papers. In this genetic traits lesson, students test their ability to taste various substances, which is determined by inherited genetic traits. They take home taste papers...
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Trait Variations for Survival
Young learners examine how different traits could give one organism an advantage over another. In groups, they view two different organisms in different environments. To end the lesson, they complete a Venn Diagram on the two organisms...
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Taster or Non-Taster?
Students conduct a simple experiment to determine if a trait has been passed from a family member to them.
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Applying the Laws of Inheritance
Biology and mathematics can be integrated through a study of Mendelian Genetics.
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Exploring Human Traits
Students explore human behavior by participating in a class science game. In this human characteristics lesson, students identify different human traits that are passed down by each generation and the purpose each of them have. Students...
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Whose Genes Are These, Anyway?
Students explore some of the ethical questions raised by genetic testing. They answer the question of whom, if anyone, has rights to knowledge of each person's genetic make-up.
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Who am I and Why?
Students make comparisons about themselves and others, which are real and meaningful. They study some basic concepts in the area of genetics and do a complimentary series of experiments, or explorations that illustrate these concepts
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Life Cycles
Students identify inherited traits. In this heredity instructional activity, students watch a video and construct a genetic description of themselves.
Agriculture in the Classroom
Roll of the Genes
Animal reproduction in sheep and cattle is explored with the help of Punnet squares. Scholars employ tools using probability to conclude the color of wool a sheep's offspring will have. Acting as animal geneticists, pupils then take...
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EMS Lesson 2: Outrageous Offspring
Young scholars investigate the principles of probability that can be used to predict hereditary traits.
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Albinistic Animals Are Awesome
Are all academicians allured with alliteration? Use this cross-curricular online resource to simultaneously expose your scholars to parts of speech and the genetic mutation causing albinism. Initial context gives students an introduction...
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Nature And Nurture
Students develop an understanding of the role both nature and nurture play in determining an individual's traits. Using a website, students answer questions about nature and nurture in order to solve the riddle, What do you call a smart...
Agriculture in the Classroom
A Rafter of Turkeys
How did that turkey get from the early Aztec culture to your table? Learn about the history of wild and domesticated turkeys in North America, as well as their inclusion in Thanksgiving traditions, with a two-part agricultural science...
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Square Dancing
Fourth graders investigate the concept of using punnett squares in the determination of the offspring.They collect drawings and pictures and create a collection for student science journals.