US National Library of Medicine
Monster Genetics Lab
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...
MENSA Education & Research Foundation
Peas in a Pod: Genetics
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...
Curated OER
Dragon Genetics ~ Independent Assortment and Genetic Linkage
Imagine a pair of dragons that produce offspring. What percentage of the hatchlings have wings and large antlers? An engaging activity draws genetics learners in, introduces them to alleles, meiosis, phenotypes, genotypes, and...
Serendip
Genetics
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...
Cherokee County Schools
Dragon Genetics
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,...
Curated OER
Dragon Genetics - Understanding Inheritance
Six pages begin with a detailed introduction to meiosis and homologous chromosome pairs. Instructions guide learners through a simulation in which they draw craft sticks marked with autosomes in order to decode the genes inherited by...
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...
Oklahoma State University
Hairy Heredity
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, learners toss coins to determine which dominant or recessive traits...
Personal Genetics Education Project
Reproductive Genetic Testing: Technology, Access, and Decision Making
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...
Curated OER
An Inventory of My Traits
In this biology activity, students identify and describe a number of easily observable genetic traits and compare the traits they have with other students. Then they identify and describe that some traits are common while others are not...
Towson University
Mystery of the Crooked Cell
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...
Biology Corner
Pipe Cleaner Babies
Ever been told you have your father's eyes? How did it happen? Young biologists get a hands-on experience in meiotic gene expression with a fun pairs-based activity. Participants use pipe cleaner chromosomes with trait beads to make...
Curated OER
Generations of Traits
In this biology 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 siblings may or may...
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...
Towson University
Mystery Disease
How did scientists determine the cause of illness before technology? Science scholars play the role of medical researcher in an engaging guided inquiry activity. Using observations, technical reading, and Punnett squares, learners...
Curated OER
Incomplete Dominant and Codominant Traits Worksheet
A two-page instructional activity provides seven Punnett squares for practice in determining genotypes and phenotypes. Each is an example of incomplete dominance or codominance. After your bright biologists have mastered Punnett squares,...
Curated OER
Probability Exercise
Follow fruit fly genetics with this probability activity. Biology scholars analyze the alleles of Bugsy, Daisy, Dino, and Lulu, considering traits for antennae, wing type, and eye color. They solve Punnett squares to determine the...
University of Georgia
Monohybrid Crosses and The Punnett Square Lesson Plan
Looking for a quick, hands-on activity to teach young scientists about Punnett squares through monohybrid crosses? then check out this one.
Curated OER
Human Heredity Traits
Completing an idea map based on various inheritance factors and mistakes, 9th graders review their knowledge of genetic disorders. While the activity is based on chapter 15 of an unnamed textbook, the questions at the bottom of the page...
Biology Junction
Nucleic Acids
In this DNA instructional activity, learners identify the different parts of the DNA and color them. They complete 16 short answer and fill in the blank questions on DNA.
Curated OER
Patterns of Heredity
A family tree of dogs guides learners through this activity, in which students analyze the pedigree. With a key describing the genetic attributes (tall dominant, short recessive, or male/female), learners complete five questions about...
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
Human Heredity Vocabulary
Ninth graders review the terms "aneuploidy," "fetus," and "karyotype" in this vocabulary worksheet, which includes three multiple choice questions about each term. This activity could be expanded into a more developed vocabulary lesson...
Curated OER
Human Heredity
Learners apply their knowledge of simple and complex inheritance of human traits to this activity, which prompts students to fill in the blanks and complete the chart. The worksheet refers to Chaper 15 of an unnamed textbook, but it...