Unit Plan
US National Library of Medicine

Genetic Traits in Harry Potter

For Students 7th - 11th
Explore human genetics through the world of Harry Potter. A thorough lesson develops the introductory concepts of genetics using characters of the popular book series. Learners study topics from DNA and chromosomes to Punnett Squares and...
Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Genetic Inheritance Follows Rules

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Rules are not meant to be broken in genetics. Scholars learn to build Punnett squares to track the inheritance of dominant and recessive traits in an interactive animation activity. Online questions help individuals reflect on their...
Unit Plan
Kenan Fellows

Unit 3: Genetic Variation

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What happens when genes change? Junior genetic investigators examine the effects of mutation in the third unit of a four-part Biotechnology series. Individuals discover the types of mutations through a series of PowerPoints, then partner...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Modern Genetics

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Genetic counselors advise their clients on the chance of passing specific diseases on to their children. Pupils learn about genotypes, phenotypes, and genetics in the lesson. Matching activities, multiple-choice questions, and a...
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...
Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Adaptations must be made as environments change. This fabulous presentation features Icelandic icefish, a transparent, scaleless specimen that even has colorless blood. Genetics and adaptations concepts are explored as scientists study...
Lesson Plan
Oklahoma State University

Hairy Heredity

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Young scholars learn that heredity comes down to the flip of a coin with this cross-curricular math and science instructional activity. Using smiley faces as a model, students toss coins to determine which dominant or...
Lesson Plan
Personal Genetics Education Project

Reproductive Genetic Testing: Technology, Access, and Decision Making

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Explore the complexities of reproductive genetic testing respectfully in the learning space. Scientists read articles, view a slideshow, and complete a do-now about genetic technologies. A fishbowl activity allows scholars to discuss the...
PPT
US National Library of Medicine

Basic Genetic Concepts and Terms

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Have you ever wondered why you aren't taller or invisible? It all comes down to your dominant and recessive genes. Introduce your class members to genetics with a presentation that includes worksheets for young geneticists to...
Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Genetics, Genetics, and More Genetics: Exploring Independent Assortment and Non-Mendelian Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Two individuals share 99.9 percent of their genetic codes, yet diversity is observed everywhere. Young scientists learn about diversity through hands-on activities and an experiment. They apply the concepts of independent assortment and...
Lesson Plan
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Teach Engineering

Don't Be a Square

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
If Parseltongue is a genetic trait, what is the probability a wizard will inherit the ability to speak Parseltongue? Scholars investigate magical and biological genetics with Punnett squares.
Lesson Plan
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Got Lactase? The Co-Evolution of Genes and Culture

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Does the human body evolve as quickly as human culture? With a stellar 15-minute video, explore the trait of lactose intolerance. Only about 1/3 of human adults seem to still have the enzyme lactase and therefore, the ability to digest...
Lesson Plan
Personal Genetics Education Project

Claims of CRISPR Being Used to Edit Genomes of Twin Girls Born in 2018

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Here is an activity that blends genetic technology, literacy skills, and critical thinking. Pupils review background information about cell lines and CRISPR by video and teacher-led discussion. Scholars collaborate to analyze two...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Mapping Genes to Traits in Dogs Using SNPs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Genetic analysis has gone to the dogs! Learners use real DNA information collected from dog saliva to study the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes. They analyze alleles to determine correlations to coat color, length, and...
PPT
US National Library of Medicine

Genetics in Harry Potter’s World Lesson 1

For Teachers 7th - 12th
By the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, we know Harry and Ginny get married, but what will their kids look like? This presentation introduces viewers to Punnett Squares and how to use them to determine both...
Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Visualizing Gene-Expression Patterns

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
How do genetics gurus know so much about gene expression? See traits materialize before your very eyes using a presentation with embedded simulations. Science scholars develop an understanding of the techniques used to follow the work of...
Unit Plan
BBSRC

Discovering DNA: The Recipe for Life

For Teachers 4th - 9th Standards
A pinch of adenine, a dash of thymine and ta-da, you have life! Well, it's not quite that simple, but through this series of activities and experiments young scientists learn about the structure of DNA and how it contains the recipe...
Lesson Plan
Personal Genetics Education Project

Genetics and Reproduction

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Disease prevention or designer babies? Use a set of slides to introduce the growing practice of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. Teens read related articles and then break into groups to address different scenarios. Afterward,...
eBook
Utah Education Network (UEN)

Utah Open Textbook: 7th Grade Science

For Students 7th Standards
Physical and biological factors affect everyday living. Scholars explore electromagnetic forces, motion, the rock cycle, and geological changes. They examine cells as the building blocks of life and how organisms reproduce using images...
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...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Pedigrees and the Inheritance of Lactose Intolerance

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What, exactly, causes lactose intolerance? Scholars view a video describing a Finnish study that determined why some people are tolerant while others are intolerant. They then use the data from the study to reenact the experiment and...
Lesson Plan
Personal Genetics Education Project

How Does Ancestry Testing Work? Exploring Admixture Testing

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Find out the science behind ancestry testing! Investigators watch a video exploring how ancestry works before participating in a hands-on group activity. Scholars role play scientists while learning about testing protocols and test...
Lesson Plan
Agriculture in the Classroom

Roll of the Genes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Animal reproduction in sheep and cattle is explored with the help of Punnet squares. Scholars employ tools using probability to conclude the color of wool a sheep's offspring will have. Acting as animal geneticists, pupils then take...
Unit Plan
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Curated OER

Artificial Selection

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
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...