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Unit Plan
North Carolina State University

Exploring Genetics Across the Middle School Science and Math Curricula

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Where is a geneticist's favorite place to swim? A gene pool. Young geneticists complete hands-on activities, experiments, and real-world problem solving throughout the unit. With extra focus on dominant and recessive genes, Punnett...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Were the babies switched? – The Genetics of Blood Types

For Students 9th - 12th
Human biology or genetics learners apply their knowledge to a unique situation: two newborn baby girls being possibly switched in the hospital. The engaging activity ends with a Punnett squares assignment in which pupils evaluate whether...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Dragon Genetics ~ Independent Assortment and Genetic Linkage

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Imagine a pair of dragons that produce offspring. What percentage of the hatchlings have wings and large antlers? An engaging activity draws genetics learners in, introduces them to alleles, meiosis, phenotypes, genotypes, and teaches...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Dragon Genetics - Understanding Inheritance

For Students 7th - 12th
Six pages begin with a detailed introduction to meiosis and homologous chromosome pairs. Instructions guide learners through a simulation in which they draw craft sticks marked with autosomes in order to decode the genes inherited by...
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PPT
Biology Junction

Mendelian Genetics

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Over the course of seven years, Gregor Mendel grew more than 28,000 pea plants. The large amount of data he collected led him to postulate the rules of genetics as we understand them today. Scholars learn about Mendel, genetics, and...
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Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

You're My 'Karyo'-Type: Karyotype For Chromosomal Disorders

For Teachers 9th - 11th
What's your type? Genetically speaking, of course! Immerse your class in the world of karyotypes through an insightful activity from the K20 Center. Scholars take on the role of genetic counselors to determine the karyotype of offspring...
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Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Kitten Creation

For Students 6th - 8th
Your pupils become geneticists as they create cat offspring. The next lesson in a series continues an exploration of genetic makeup as scholars consider parent traits to build their offspring. Using household items, they create kittens...
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Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Lucky Brand Genes: Genetic Traits

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore single-gene traits in humans. After viewing a video introducing genetic vocabulary, individuals identify their phenotype and possible genotypes of specific traits. They consider both dominant and recessive traits. This is the...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Testing a Hypothesis

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Are sickle cell disease and malaria related somehow? Scholars learn about both illnesses and the hypotheses that they are related. They discuss, view a video, and answer questions to demonstrate understanding. The resource includes an...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Population Genetics, Selection, and Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that alleles and genotypes remain constant in the absence of evolutionary influences. Scholars complete a simple hands-on activity applying the Hardy-Weinberg principle to sample data. They observe how...
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Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Genes Get Shuffled When Chromosomes Exchange Pieces

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Some genes link to others that have implications for inheritance. A set of resources lead pupils through the history of this discovery. They explain how chromosomes recombine and which parts are more susceptible to this linkage....
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AP Test Prep
College Board

2016 AP® Biology Free-Response Questions

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
A remarkably high number of scholars passed the AP Biology exam in 2016 with over 61 percent earning college credit. The College Board released the entire free-response section for future scholars to study. After answering the eight...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Mendelian Genetics, Probability, Pedigree, and Chi-Square Statistics

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
People with the sickle cell trait, but not sickle cell disease, find natural protection against malaria. Scholars consider various combinations of genotypes and environmental factors to determine if children might have sickle cell...
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Lesson Plan
Serendip

Should States Repeal Their Laws Banning First Cousin Marriage?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Around half of the states in the US ban first cousin marriage, but does science support that ban? Scholars work through genetic analysis of the risks to understand if more states should ban the practice—or if some should remove it. They...
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Lesson Plan
Serendip

Soap Opera Genetics – Genetics to Resolve Family Arguments

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did she cheat on her husband? Did the hospital switch the babies? Should they have children? As much as this sounds like the plot for a soap opera, all of these questions fit into a single lesson on genetics. Scholars read about three...
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Activity
Serendip

Mitosis, Meiosis and Fertilization Vocabulary Review Taboo Game

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Can you describe a gamete without using the words sperm or egg? Scholars play a vocabulary review game where they try to get other players to guess their words. Each card has the target word as well as two related words they must not...
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Learning
Serendip

Genetics Review Jeopardy Game

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Why not add a little excitement to review day? Play genetic Jeopardy to quiz your classes before they take the assessment. The resource provides a game board in PowerPoint with questions related to meiosis and prediction of traits.
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Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

A Farmer’s Challenge to Breed to the Greatest of Grapes

For Teachers 7th Standards
What does your class know about GMOs? Are they savvy to selective breeding? Challenge young minds to engineer the greatest crop of all time using a hands-on genetics unit. Learners discover the good and bad details of selective breeding,...
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Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Recent Adaptations in Humans

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
You've probably spent plenty of time discussing animal adaptations with your young biologists, but what about human adaptations? Explore the evolving traits of humankind through an interactive that combines text and video clips. Scholars...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Lactase Persistence: Evidence for Selection

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What's the link between lactase persistence and dairy farming? Biology scholars analyze data to find evidence of the connection, then relate this to human adaptation. Working individually and in small groups, learners view short video...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Developing an Explanation for Mouse Fur Color

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Whether or not you think mice are nice, you'll love the colorful activity! Scholars examine evidence for evolution in the rock pocket mouse through video, discussion, and collaborative work. Learners watch a video regarding variation in...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Teosinte Hypothesis

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Don't want to sound corny, but your class will be a-maize-d by an engaging activity! Explore the history of the modern corn plant through a video and Punnett squares. Junior genetics experts get hands-on experience with actual research...
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Unit Plan
Anthropological Association

Race: Teacher Guide: Race

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How has the concept of race changed over time? Explore the genetic, cultural, and social aspects of race through a series of impactful activities. Scholars discover how race is influenced by inherited traits, examine census records to...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Zebrafish and Skin Color

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
You may not know if that zebrafish in your fish tank is a model citizen—but it is definitely a model organism! What can we learn about ourselves from a tiny zebrafish? Discover more about the polygenic trait of skin color through a...