Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section One: What is Biodiversity?
Four intriguing and scientific activities invite learners to explore the natural resources of their town. The activities cover concepts such as genetic traits, organizing species in a taxonomy, the differences between different species...
Curated OER
Genetically Inherited Traits
Students explore heredity by examining how traits are passed from parent to offspring. Genetic terminology is examined and examples of inherited traits discussed. calculating genetic probability is also investigated in this lesson.
Western Kentucky University
Understanding Genetics: Punnett Squares
Can scientists really predict genetic outcomes or are they simply making a lucky guess? Scholars first learn about Gregor Mendel and how to make Punnett squares. Then they extract DNA from a strawberry in a lab with included conclusion...
American Museum of Natural History
Nature or Nurture Quiz
Eighteen questions ask pupils whether certain behavior or trait is based on nature or nurture. Scholars take a quiz, reflect on their answers, then challenge a friend or family member to complete it.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Natural Selection and the Evolution of Darwin's Finches
Darwin explained the connection between species of finches 150 years before scientists understood DNA. Technology and progressing science proved he was right, yet many struggle to understand how natural selection happens. Scholars use...
Curated OER
Take Home Lab: What Are Some Traits in Your Family?
Young scholars use this following the study of pedigree designs and human genetics. Four pedigree designs are prepared of your (student's) family's genetics. They construct the pedigree representing two, three, or four generations.
Curated OER
Family Traits
Students investigate the study of pedigree designs and human genetics. They construct the pedigree representing two, three, or four generations. They investigate their family members' traits for ear lobe attachment, tongue rolling,...
Curated OER
Inheritance Patterns in Zorks
In this inheritance patterns worksheet, students create a visual of a Zork using chromosome strips to represent alleles from the father and the mother to determine the traits in the offspring. Students translate the genotype to the...
Curated OER
Generations of Traits
In this biology instructional activity, students track and record the passage of colored pom pom traits through three generations of ginger-bread people. Then they describe that traits are passed from parents to offspring and that...
Curated OER
Tracking Down Traits
Sixth graders list traits that all sixth graders share. They receive worksheets "Tracking Down Traits," working in groups to complete the chart. Students share results with the class and a class summary is tallied. Students discuss the...
Curated OER
Artificial Selection
The second lesson in the series begins with a starter activity discussing wild versus domesticated animals. Then, scholars play a card game, with optional variations, to emphasize artificial selection. Next, they attend a field trip to a...
Curated OER
The Wonders of Horse Coat Color
You won't be able to use a few of the slides in this presentation since the first lists objectives not met within, and the third gives instructions to a worksheet that is not included. You will, however, find the remaining slides useful...
Serendip
Genetics Vocabulary Review Game
Taboo, anyone?! A vocabulary review lesson asks learners to give their partners clues to help them guess the target word. The catch? There are words that are taboo. If they use the prohibited words, they don't get credit if partners...
Curated OER
Genes within Populations
Finally, here is a genetics worksheet that does not include Punnett squares! Designed for a more advanced class, biology learners will compare Lamarck's concept of evolution with Darwin's. They will explore the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium...
Curated OER
Reproduction and Heredity
Sixth graders investigate how traits are passed from parents to their offspring. They list things they have in common with family members, read key vocabulary terms, create a poster of shared physical and personality traits, and watch...
Curated OER
Super Hero Genetics
Students explore the concepts of phenotypes and genotypes. In this genetics lesson students work together to pick a superhero and determine the traits of the offspring.
Curated OER
Patterns of Heredity Vocabulary
Test your students' biology vocabulary skills with this review sheet, in which students define twelve different vocabulary terms related to patterns of heredity. Using the word bank provided, 9th graders complete eight sentences with the...
Curated OER
SpongeBob Genetics Quiz
For this biology worksheet, middle schoolers use the information given to complete each of the questions. They indicate whether each genotype is heterozygous or homozygous. Students also complete the Punnett square to illustrate the...
Curated OER
Simple Genetics Practice Problems
Geneticists of the future identify heterozygous and homozygous genotypes, describe phenotypes, and use Punnett squares to solve problems and determine characteristics of offspring. A total of 15 questions make this a compact quiz or...
Curated OER
Heredity, Genetics, Traits
Eighth graders study how an embryo develops into a fetus by undergoing many physical changes which they observe on a poster. They examine the metamorphosis of fruit flies as they develop through a series of changes. They record the...
Curated OER
Lesson 14: Genetic Disorders
Students create PowerPoint presentation on the topic they researched. For this biology lesson, students fill out a storyboard about their topic. They share their project in class.
Curated OER
Survivors on the Ocean Ridge
Students discover the uniqueness of deep sea hydrothermal vent organisms through an exploration of the NOAA Galapagos Rift Expedition. They study the genetics and evolution of a shrimp species that lives near the vents then they...
Curated OER
The Human Mind
Students read and discuss twin studies to explore the debate of nature vs. nurture. They create a list of characteristics and then look for evidence of whether it is primarily a genetic or environmental characteristic. All of the...