Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heredity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners are introduced to the basic principles of heredity. Through discussion and discrimination activities, they review the role of chromosomes and distinguish between those traits that can and cannot be inherited. Students use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Principles of Heredity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students model traits on genes using colored paper and tongue depressors to represent chromosomes. For this heredity lesson plan, students use their "chromosome sticks" to understand chromosome pairs, genes, dominant traits, recessive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chromosome Karyotyping

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore chromosome karyotyping. In this chromosome karyotyping lesson plan, students use a chromosome kit to explore chromosome syndromes and disorders. They also produce a large model of a cell with chromosome to simulate cell...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Karyotypes and Inheritance of Chromosomes

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the mode of inheritance of chromosomes. Given a scenario, students use the Human Genome sheet to determine inherited chromosomes. They illustrate the difference between genotype and phenotype. Students develop a model...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetics of Parenthood

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students participate in an activity where they flip coins to determine which allele they pass on to the F1 generation and draw the resulting child's face. They identify several inheritance patterns including dominant, recessive,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 5: Untangling DNA

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students extract DNA from split peas. In this biology lesson, students research how chromatin form into chromosomes. They draw the stages and present their work in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Born of Blood

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use a large Punnett Square and infer how genes determine blood types.  In this blood type lesson plan students predict blood types and demonstrate how Punnett Squares are related to genes and chromosomes. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Karyotypes & Chromosome Inheritance

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study Mendelian genetic terms, locate and name loci on chromosomes, karyotype construction, inheritance patterns through families.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Do Genes Look Like?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe the basic structure of the DNA molecule. They identify what an inherited trait is and how it can be determined by one or more genes. Finally, 7th graders identify that plant and animal cells contain several...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teacher Preparation Notes on Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore genetics through various hands-on activities. In this biology lesson, students predict the probability of offspring genotypes and phenotypes using the Punnett Square. They explain the causes of genetic abnormalities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sex-Linked Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers review the concepts of incomplete dominance, co-dominance and multiple alleles. As a class, they are introduced to the concept of sex-linked genes and how they are passed to offspring. To end the lesson, they examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extracting DNA from Your Cells - Teacher Preparation Notes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners extract their own DNA from cheek cells. In this biology instructional activity, students explain the replication process. They identify the structure and composition of DNA.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Process of Mitosis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students discover through whole-class role play, the process of mitosis. They will all become a chromosome and demonstrate how they line up 23 to 23.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dragon Genetics-Independent Assortment and Genetic Linkage

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students build chromosome models using popsicle sticks. In this biology lesson, students simulate the Law of Independent Assortment. They use Punnett squares to predict the resulting genotype and phenotype.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designer Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video on DNA. They discuss mitosis, meiosis and fertilization. They use strips of paper to simulate fertilization and analyze the genotype and phenotype of the combined chromosomes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Here's Looking at You

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assess some common inherited traits which are easily observable and note their phenotype for the trait. Students compare their phenotypes to those of their parents and attempt to describe the pattern and manor of inheritance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fruit Fly Ranch Activity

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe how the traits of an organism are passed from generation to generation. They distinguish between asexual and sexul reproduction. Students identify traits through genes and those resulting from interactions with...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Extracting DNA

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Uncover the basics of DNA structure through exploration activities. Collaborative groups build DNA models and recreate the process of replication. Then, using plant cells such as peas or strawberries, they extract a DNA sample.
Lesson Plan
LABScI

Genetic Equilibrium: Human Diversity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mutations and Cancer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study how cancer cells mutate and affect cell division.  In this investigative lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation learn the seven warning signs of cancer. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 9: Visual Meiosis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students create a fictional organism. In this biology lesson, students predict the traits of resulting offspring. They complete activity worksheet and discuss answers in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Human Traits

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
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...