University of Colorado
Punnett Squares with Piebald Deer
Explore the science behind Earth's amazing diversity of life with this lesson on genetics. Looking at specific traits in piebald deer, carnations, and roan cattle, young scientists use Punnett...
Curated OER
"Easter" Egg Genetics
Using plastic Easter eggs to represent parent phenotypes, genetics enthusiasts simulate the passing of alleles. They record the phenotype of each half of the egg, one representing the mother's and one representing the father's. They...
Beyond Benign
Punnett Square Possibilities
Discover possible genetic outcomes through Punnett Squares. Learners continue studying genetic traits in the 10th lesson in the 17-part series. After determining the father of Sparky's kittens, scholars now attempt to predict the traits...
Curated OER
Allele and Phenotype Frequencies in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
In the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, some tiny creatures show just how quickly natural selection can turn a mutation into an advantageous adaptation. Watch a video about rock pocket mice, who show that one small change can make all...
Curated OER
Punnett Squares
Eighth graders take a short quiz on genotypes and phenotypes. As a class, they are introduced to the concept of Punnett Squares and listen to a description of Gregor Mendel's pea experiment. In groups, they complete Punnett Squares to...
Virginia Department of Education
Passing Traits to Offspring
What makes each one of us unique? Lead your class in this exciting and educational activity as you uncover traits that show how each individual is different from another. Pupils explore facts about DNA technology and predict the...
Science 4 Inquiry
Monster Mash-Up of Genetics
It's alive! Young mad scientists create monsters as they explore the probabilities of genetic traits during a well-structured inquiry activity. Pairs travel from station to station, rolling the dice and adding traits to their creations...
Agriculture in the Classroom
Design 'Y'er Genes
How do changes in DNA affect an organism? Scholars explore chromosomes, genes, DNA, and mutations by modeling the DNA of a strawberry. They build a DNA model, then manipulate it to show how changing the genes transforms the strawberry...
Kenan Fellows
A Farmer’s Challenge to Breed to the Greatest of Grapes
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,...
Curated OER
Phenotypic and Genotypic Changes in Bacteria
Students investigate a rapid method to render the bacterium Escherichia coli "competent" to uptake plasmid DNA. They demonstrate the phenotypic changes associated with transformation. They perform a cell resuspension from the...
Curated OER
My Family And Me
Students create a family pedigree, relate the laws of inheritance to a family pedigree, and determine certain phenotypes and corresponding genotypes of members in their family.
Virginia Department of Education
Building a DNA Model
It has been decades since the discovery of DNA. Still, activities such building this DNA model allow blossoming scientists to better understand the components that form this overall structure. During this activity, they will also...
Curated OER
Take Me to Sesame Street!
Students will apply concepts learned in genetics, such as Punnett squares and pedigree charts, in creating their own monster family. Also they will work cooperatively with a partner to create their monster family.
LABScI
Genetic Equilibrium: Human Diversity
Investigate the Hardy-Weinberg Principle to explain genetic equilibrium. The 10th lesson plan of a series of 12 is a laboratory exploration of genetic equilibrium. Your classes use a mixture of beans to model allele and genotype...
Beyond Benign
Lucky Brand Genes: Genetic Traits
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...
Curated OER
Making Babies
Students participate in a genetics activity in which they determine genotypes and phenotypes for given traits. They work with a partner and create babies based on their genotypes. Once traits for babies are determined, they write...
Curated OER
A Sputtering Image
Students explain the role of genes in heredity. In this biology activity, students predict the offspring's genotypes and phenotypes using the Punnett Square. They compute the probability of genotypes and phenotypes.
Curated OER
Making Babies
Sixth graders complete a human traits survey. In this genetics lesson students read articles and fill out a worksheet on genotype and phenotypes.
Curated OER
Marshmallow Babies
Eighth graders interpret the genotypes and phenotypes, then pair up chromosomes.
Curated OER
PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHANGES IN BACTERIA
Students use a rapid method to render the bacterium Escherichia coli "competent" in order to uptake plasmid DNA. They also have growth on the plain LB plates by the untransformed cells (which serve as controls). Students perform a cell...
Science Friday
Colorful Chromosomes
Everything is in the genes. Individuals observe 14 different traits of themselves. Using pipe cleaners and beads, the learners create models of a chromosome representing their traits. The class then compares and contrasts everyone's...
Curated OER
Inheritance in Maize
Learners use mutant corn ears to investigate inheritance patterns. In this inheritance lesson plan, students count the number of corn kernels of each phenotype in mutant and wild type ears of corn. Learners calculate the ratio of...
Curated OER
Biology-Genetics
High schoolers predict the probable mode of inheritance from a pedigree diagram showing phenotypes. They study the genetic basis for Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment. They give a Power Point slide show...
Curated OER
Happy Face Spider Propagation
Students research genetic adaptations. In this chromosome lesson, students investigate dominant and recessive genes using spiders indigenous to Hawaii. Students create Punnett squares to determine the probability of passing specific...