Lesson Plan
MENSA Education & Research Foundation

Peas in a Pod: Genetics

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Can peas have grandparents? Learn about inherited traits and heredity with a set of activities focused on Mendelian genetics. As your class learns about the process of passing traits along in Punnett squares, they take on the role of...
Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Punnett Squares with Piebald Deer

For Teachers 5th - 10th Standards
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...
Lab Resource
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US National Library of Medicine

Monster Genetics Lab

For Students 6th - 10th Standards
Harness young scientists' knowledge of genetics with an engaging science activity. Students start by flipping a coin to determine the genotypes and phenotypes of two parent monsters, before using Punnett squares to...
Worksheet
Serendip

Genetics

For Students 7th - Higher Ed
A handout on genetic inheritance begins with a reading on alleles and how they can result in albinism. Junior geneticists learn to complete Punnett squares and participate in a coin toss simulation of allele pairing. They also learn...
Activity
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Cherokee County Schools

Dragon Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
It's alive! Turn young biologists into mad scientists with this engaging genetics activity. Using their knowledge of chromosomes and genes, students create dragons with unique sets of traits,...
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Heredity: Traits, Genes, Alleles

For Students 8th Standards
If you knew people would pay extra for a bald dragon, could you pick which parents you should breed in order to get the highest number? The unit examines heredity and genetics through breeding dragons, mice, dogs, and tries to figure...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Understanding Variation

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Does where we live influence how our bodies express genetic traits? Explore variation in human skin color with an activity that incorporate video and hands-on learning. Individuals model the relationship between phenotypes and genotypes,...
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 lesson. Using smiley faces as a model, students toss coins to determine which dominant or recessive traits...
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
Kenan Fellows

A Farmer’s Challenge to Breed to the Greatest of Grapes

For Teachers 7th Standards
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,...
Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section One: What is Biodiversity?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
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...
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...
Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Medical Ethics

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Just because we have the ability to determine an organism's traits through genetic testing, should we do it? Middle-school medical experts examine the ethical dilemmas in biotechnology in the 18th and final installment in a series of...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

All About Horses

For Students 6th - 12th
Horses come in all shapes and sizes, but all belong to the same species. Young scholars explore the different traits and connect the information to genetic modification. The interactive gives them the option to read about 18 different...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Mendelian Genetics, Probability, Pedigree, and Chi-Square Statistics

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
People with the sickle cell trait, but not sickle cell disease, find natural protection against malaria. Scholars consider various combinations of genotypes and environmental factors to determine if children might have sickle cell...
Lesson Plan
Towson University

Mystery of the Crooked Cell

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Can your class solve the Mystery of the Crooked Cell? Junior geneticists collaborate to learn about sickle cell anemia in a fascinating lesson plan. The included materials help them to examine the genetic factors behind the disease...
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...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Teosinte Hypothesis

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Don't want to sound corny, but your class will be a-maize-d by an engaging activity! Explore the history of the modern corn plant through a video and Punnett squares. Junior genetics experts get hands-on experience with actual research...
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...
Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Recent Adaptations in Humans

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
You've probably spent plenty of time discussing animal adaptations with your young biologists, but what about human adaptations? Explore the evolving traits of humankind through an interactive that combines text and video clips. Scholars...
Assessment
American Museum of Natural History

Nature or Nurture Quiz

For Students 6th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Serendip

Should States Repeal Their Laws Banning First Cousin Marriage?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Around half of the states in the US ban first cousin marriage, but does science support that ban? Scholars work through genetic analysis of the risks to understand if more states should ban the practice—or if some should remove it. They...
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
Kenan Fellows

Unit 4: Bioethics and the Future of Biotechnology

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What's the future of biotechnology? Explore a hot topic in the fourth and final unit in a series of Biotechnology lessons. Learners develop an understanding of the many issues in bioethics, then create an argument for or against the role...

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