Blood types and transfusions are explained in reading passages at the top of the learning exercise. A chart of blood type compatibility is also provided. Biology students answer comprehension questions and then exercise critical-thinking...

Studnets, in groups, analyze data regarding genetic and nongenetic relationships of I.Q. They make observations and discuss correlations from a diagram. Cooperative learning teams discuss a given set of questions and present information...

High schoolers analyze different types of hemoglobin. They use the technique of agarose gel electrophoresis to separate human hemoglobin molecules according to their electrical charge, size, and/or shape. Students relate the migration...

Students explore the field of genetics. They examine four basic traits. Students demonstrate their knowledge of phenotype and genotype by charting their personal traits. Students compelte a Meiosis chart. From the chart results,...

Young scholars study using analogies between common items or occurrences and science concepts. They use the analogy of cookie recipes to that of the DNA "recipes" for living things to help us explain more about mutations.

Learners randomly select jelly beans that represent genes for several human traits such as tongue-rolling ability and eye color. Then, working in pairs (preferably of mixed gender), students randomly choose new pairs of jelly beans from...

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, they examine possible...

Students determine their inherited characteristics from their parents. For this biology lesson, students study the life of Mendel using an interactive website. They differentiate dominant and recessive characteristics.

Students are assigned to bring five flowers. They explore flowers to distinguish different physical features of flowers. They compare and contrast different flowers to determine what features they have in common. Students develop an...

High schoolers 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.

Studnets compare how two elephant seal populations fare during successive generations. They participate in a simulation using a card game to look at the differences in two populations, one that is protected from mortality by human...

Students are presented with a scenario that requires them to electrophoreses human hemoglobin samples in order to confirm a diagnosis of sickle cell anemia and/or to determine whether individuals in the scenario are carriers of the...

Fourth graders investigate the concept of using punnett squares in the determination of the offspring.They collect drawings and pictures and create a collection for student science journals.

Students gain a feeling for the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium without using algebra but participating in an interactice game.

Students read and discuss the background of plants, seeds, and gene banks and grow seeds on their own. In this seeds lesson plan, students also use maps to identify seed banks and research plant farmers.

Students model the plasticity of neural pathways for memory in the brain. They simulate the cell activity according to dots on cards that they are given. They complete various simulations of different cell combinations.

Students examine the effects on motor functions in mice. They make observations and graph their data. They analyze the data and draw conclusions in each of the three experiments.

Students read a story about the life of Russian plant breeder Nikolai I and Vavilov and the national seed bank he established. They research the Irish Potato Famine of the late 1840s and identify the cause for this famine and make...

Students examine the phenotypic variation within a natural population of a single species. They collect data on the species and analyze the data using statistical/spreadsheet software. Students interpret their results and present their...

Students explore evolutionary concepts in cartoons and lab activities. They describe and explain evolutionary concepts featured in a cartoon and participate in laboratory activities.

Students analyze gels to determine parentage in this instructional activity about scientific evidence, investigation, and DNA concepts. The instructional activity includes a pre-activity worksheet, a final individual assessment, and...

Students identify the different kinds of blood. In this biology lesson, students investigate the antigens, agglutinins and Rh factor using their own blood. They use Punnett squares to predict blood type of offspring.

Through informational text, interactive activities, practice problems, and video clips, students analyze how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.

This site from Palomar College provides a good background on exactly what Mendel did. Vocabulary links throughout make this a very good introduction article for genetics.