Genetics

Genetics is one of my favorite topics. As a relatively new teacher, I realized early on that you need to start with the basics which means learning the vocabulary.

If students don't know basic vocabulary terms then they will not be able to complete more complicated genetic problems later on. I like having my students complete a genetics vocabulary foldable in their science interactive notebooks to refer back too constantly.

Foldables are amazing because if each student has them in their notebook, they can take turns quizzing each other. Then they can go home and practice independently. Once students have mastered the basic genetic terms, then it's time to have them start practicing how Punnett squares work.

Once your students know how to properly distribute both parents' alleles to their potential offspring then you can start incorporating genetic vocabulary terms into the problems (for example, what if the mother is homozygous recessive...).

In the monster worksheet above, I actually give students the genotype but I also have a different version where I just tell students if the parents are homozygous or heterozygous for various traits. I like having different versions of the same worksheet to provide differentiation depending on my students' individual needs.

Lastly, throw in a fun lab where students can actually see how dominant and recessive genes work to create the various phenotypes we see! For example, have your students create a monster.