Really a unit, this resource exposes middle schoolers to genetics at their level. They read interviews and biographies, trace a family tree, play games that simulate inheritance concepts, and more! Teacher's procedures, student...

Students plant seeds in order to investigate and explore the questions: "How do seed companies develop varieties of plants?" and "What is the ideal plant?" Students will study related vocabulary and sketch seeds as they emerge. Students...

Fifth graders understand the meaning of dominant and recessive. In this dominant and recessive traits instructional activity, 5th graders participate in a game and record results on a chart. Students relate experiment to genes. Students...

Students model traits on genes using colored paper and tongue depressors to represent chromosomes. In this heredity lesson plan, students use their "chromosome sticks" to understand chromosome pairs, genes, dominant traits, recessive...

Students research the population of Bengal tigers and their existence as either dominant or recessive. They explore the presence of fur on these tigers and its lethal combinations. Determinating the effect of random mating in a...

Students explore heredity. In this science lesson plan, students examine what heredity is, distinguish the difference between the dominant and recessive genes, explain the difference between phenotype and genotype, and predict the...

Fifth graders examine the difference between dominant and recessive genes, and what happens when genes are combined. They complete a worksheet on genetics after observing if they can wiggle their ears or roll their tongues. They...

Students 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 plan, they examine...

A great handout to introduce genetics. Young geneticists will begin to examine which traits are prevalent in their own families, helping them begin to understand the concept of dominant and recessive genes. This is an excellent resource...

Students explore the history, inheritance and mutations of genetics.  In this genetic lesson students complete experiments on DNA sequences.

Tenth graders discuss their physical features, and why they look the way they do. They listen as the teacher discusses DNA, alleles, and dominant or recessive genes. Students perform an experiment with different colored markers...

Students experiment with pea pods to observe/appreciate the diversity of individuals within a population, and to explain of how dominant and recessive traits, genotypes, and phenotypes help produce variation in a population.

Students use 2 sets of colored beans to represent the genes of an organism. In this genetic probability lesson plan, students use the colored beans to represent the genotypes of offspring which they pull out of a box at random while the...

Young scholars research genetic adaptations. In this chromosome lesson, students investigate dominant and recessive genes using spiders indigenous to Hawaii. Young scholars create Punnett squares to determine the probability of passing...

Young scholars study the number of chromosomes in the body cells, sperm cells, and egg cells of humans. They define allele, and examine the difference between dominant and recessive alleles. They complete an activity with jelly beans...

Students are introduced to genetics along with genetic diseases and heredity. In groups, they complete a Punnett Square to determine the dominant and recessive genes. After viewing diagrams, they identify the characteristics of DNA and...

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...

Students discern that dominant and recessive traits occur in a variety of combinations in any given group of people.

Students explore Gregor Mendel's work with genetics. They complete a survey of their friends and family in order to identify dominant and recessive traits. Once their surveys are complete, students discuss the ways in which dominant...

Students observe and record observations of whether a person is a taster or nontaster. They test selected individuals from their families and peer groups and chart all findings to determine which trait (e.g. taster or non-taster) is...

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...

Students explain the difference between dominant and recessive genes, identify what causes differences in the traits of parents and their offspring, and explain how sex is determined. They will also improve their reading and...

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...

Students create a checklist of traits common in all of their families. Uisng a table, they compare and contrast their family members to non-family members. They also review dominant and recessive traits and discuss how knowing about...