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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Human Traits

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore human behavior by participating in a class science game. In this human characteristics instructional activity, students identify different human traits that are passed down by each generation and the purpose each of them...
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Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Lucky Brand Genes: Genetic Traits

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore single-gene traits in humans. After viewing a video introducing genetic vocabulary, individuals identify their phenotype and possible genotypes of specific traits. They consider both dominant and recessive traits. This is the...
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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...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
At one point, all mammals carried only two color receptors, but now most humans carry three. An informative presentation and hands-on activity demonstrate how this evolved through genetics. By participating in the activity, pupils...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Human Heredity Vocabulary

For Students 9th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracking Down Traits

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders list traits that all sixth graders share. They receive worksheets "Tracking Down Traits," working in groups to complete the chart. Students share results with the class and a class summary is tallied. Students discuss the...
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Lesson Plan
Science Friday

Colorful Chromosomes

For Students 6th - 8th
Everything is in the genes. Individuals observe 14 different traits of themselves. Using pipe cleaners and beads, the learners create models of a chromosome representing their traits. The class then compares and contrasts everyone's...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Raven Chapter 13 Guided Notes: Patterns of Inheritance

For Students 11th - Higher Ed
In this short space, it would be impossible to describe the breadth of this seven-page genetics worksheet. Geared toward AP or college biology learners, they explore not only the basic vocabulary and concepts, but also the Law of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Traits

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study vocabulary and complete a survey.  In this human traits lesson students collect and analyze data then discuss what they learned. 
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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 recessive traits...
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Lesson Plan
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Human Skin Color: Evidence for Selection

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
Skin color is controlled by at least six genes. Young scientists learn about skin colors through a documentary. They discuss the topics of pigment, natural selection, and vitamin D absorption. They apply their knowledge to higher order...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the Human Genome

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study DNA and how it was discovered.  In this biology lesson students see the effects of mapping the human genome would have. 
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Lesson Plan
LABScI

Genetic Equilibrium: Human Diversity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the Hardy-Weinberg Principle to explain genetic equilibrium. The 10th lesson plan of a series of 12 is a laboratory exploration of genetic equilibrium. Your classes use a mixture of beans to model allele and genotype...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Human Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As the great and hilarious Tim Minchin once said, "Science is simply the word we use to describe a method of organizing our curiosity." Science is more than just a guess; it is based on questions, observations, and evidence. High...
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Interactive3:45
Scholastic

Study Jams! Heredity

For Students 6th - 9th Standards
Mia wishes her blue hair was inherited so that she wouldn't have to dye it, but Sam explains that eye color is. The video does not expound upon the concept of alleles. It does, however, describe inherited traits vs. learned behavior, and...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Patterns of Heredity Vocabulary

For Students 9th
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...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Human Genetic Disorder Probabilities

For Students 9th - 12th
In this genetic disorders worksheet, students complete punnett squares for six different human genetic disorders. They predict the outcome of the offspring including the phenotypes and genotypes of each.
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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...
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Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Migration, Adaptation, and Changing Climates

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
It is easy for humans to adapt to changing environments, but how do animals and plants do it? Classes discuss how plants and animals deal with environmental changes in the second of seven lessons. Through questions and discussions,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 10: Karyotypes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students predict traits of future offspring. In this biology lesson, students study karyotyping to predict genetic disorders. They research an assigned karyotype and present information about it.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature vs. Nurture

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the concept of nature versus nurture in human development through this series of lessons.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientists and Inventors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore human discovery by reading historical stories in class. In this inventors lesson, students define the terms scientist, invention, inventor and discovery before discussing the many differences between them. Students read...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Freshmen Biology Terms

For Students 9th
In this biology activity, 9th graders identify and locate various vocabulary terms pertaining to ninth grade biology. There are 48 biology terms located in the word search.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Dihybrid Cross Punnett Squares

For Students 9th - 12th
In this dihybrid cross learning exercise, students complete two punnett squares for the cross of two traits. They determine the genotypes, phenotypes and phenotypic ratios of the offspring.