What others say
"This resource creates an awesome hands-on genetics learning opportunity. I will warn you that this is not a print-and-go activity. You will need to plan ahead, read through all the information, and gather supplies! There are some needed supplies, but nothing hard to get!"
Nicole S.
"I love this genetics unit. It is very detailed and broken into parts. My students are enjoying this unit."
Scarlett W.
Description
Introduction to Genetics 5E Science Unit
Engage students with a hands-on monster engineering challenge that helps them understand key genetics concepts like dominant and recessive traits! This 5E complete STEM unit includes editable handouts, teacher instructions, presentation slides, and science background pages.
This 5-day lesson sequence is intended to guide students in upper elementary or middle school (4th - 8th grade) through an introductory genetics science lesson. No prior knowledge of genetics is needed.
Students will complete a hands-on monster engineering design challenge as a foundation for a deeper understanding of genetic concepts. Students will then apply concepts to an inventory of classroom traits and a real-world science career. A final assessment or exit ticket is provided.
Key Science Concepts:
- All living things inherit traits from their parents
- Most traits come in 2 forms - dominant and recessive
- Traits are expressed using phenotype and genotype
- Dominant traits are not always the more common trait
Complete 5E Science Unit:
- Engage: Watch Monsters Video
- Explore: Complete Monster Engineering Challenge
- Explain: Connect Monster to Science Concepts
- Elaborate: Deepen Understanding with an Inventory of Traits + Career Connection
- Evaluate: Assess Student Learning with Reflections + Exit Ticket
5-90 minute Lesson Sequence
- Session 1: Video Intro + Monster Engineering Challenge
- Session 2: Engineering Challenge + Connecting Monster to Science Concepts (Inherited Traits)
- Session 3: Connection to Science Concepts (Dominant + Recessive)
- Session 4: Inventory of Human Traits + Graphing results
- Session 5: Analyzing results + STEM Career Connection + Exit Ticket
Recommended Materials:
- Paper tubes
- Styrofoam or plastic cups
- Paper boxes
- Pipe cleaners
- Craft sticks
- Toothpicks
- Googly eyes
- Pom poms
- Tape
- Scissors
- Rubber Bands
- Straws
- Other misc. craft/building material
- PTC Paper
Report this resource to TPT
Reported resources will be reviewed by our team. Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates TPT's content guidelines.
Highlights
Digital downloads
Grades
4th - 8th
Subjects
Standards
NGSS3-5-ETS1-1
NGSSMS-ETS1-1
NGSS3-5-ETS1-2
Tags
Pages
80
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
1 Week
What others say
"This resource creates an awesome hands-on genetics learning opportunity. I will warn you that this is not a print-and-go activity. You will need to plan ahead, read through all the information, and gather supplies! There are some needed supplies, but nothing hard to get!"
Nicole S.
"I love this genetics unit. It is very detailed and broken into parts. My students are enjoying this unit."
Scarlett W.
Save even more with bundles
Are you in need of year-round STEM activities? This growing bundle includes our most popular STEM lessons and engineering design challenges for middle school grades! 20% off individual products! The bundle includes engineering lessons to cover each science unit plus seasonal activities to keep your
Price $256.65Original Price $366.65Save $110.00
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Are you in need of year-round STEM activities? This growing bundle includes ALL Vivify K-12 STEM lessons from team challenges, engineering design, semester-long STEM units, research projects, and more! Purchase everything for 20% off individual products! Here is a sample of what is included: Stage 1
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233
Description
Introduction to Genetics 5E Science Unit
Engage students with a hands-on monster engineering challenge that helps them understand key genetics concepts like dominant and recessive traits! This 5E complete STEM unit includes editable handouts, teacher instructions, presentation slides, and science background pages.
This 5-day lesson sequence is intended to guide students in upper elementary or middle school (4th - 8th grade) through an introductory genetics science lesson. No prior knowledge of genetics is needed.
Students will complete a hands-on monster engineering design challenge as a foundation for a deeper understanding of genetic concepts. Students will then apply concepts to an inventory of classroom traits and a real-world science career. A final assessment or exit ticket is provided.
Key Science Concepts:
- All living things inherit traits from their parents
- Most traits come in 2 forms - dominant and recessive
- Traits are expressed using phenotype and genotype
- Dominant traits are not always the more common trait
Complete 5E Science Unit:
- Engage: Watch Monsters Video
- Explore: Complete Monster Engineering Challenge
- Explain: Connect Monster to Science Concepts
- Elaborate: Deepen Understanding with an Inventory of Traits + Career Connection
- Evaluate: Assess Student Learning with Reflections + Exit Ticket
5-90 minute Lesson Sequence
- Session 1: Video Intro + Monster Engineering Challenge
- Session 2: Engineering Challenge + Connecting Monster to Science Concepts (Inherited Traits)
- Session 3: Connection to Science Concepts (Dominant + Recessive)
- Session 4: Inventory of Human Traits + Graphing results
- Session 5: Analyzing results + STEM Career Connection + Exit Ticket
Recommended Materials:
- Paper tubes
- Styrofoam or plastic cups
- Paper boxes
- Pipe cleaners
- Craft sticks
- Toothpicks
- Googly eyes
- Pom poms
- Tape
- Scissors
- Rubber Bands
- Straws
- Other misc. craft/building material
- PTC Paper
Report this resource to TPT
Reported resources will be reviewed by our team. Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates TPT's content guidelines.
Reviews
Grades used with
Reviews
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
All verified TPT purchases
This resource creates an awesome hands-on genetics learning opportunity. I will warn you that this is not a print-and-go activity. You will need to plan ahead, read through all the information, and gather supplies! There are some needed supplies, but nothing hard to get!
I love this genetics unit. It is very detailed and broken into parts. My students are enjoying this unit.
I'm not always one for pre-packaged science lessons (I like to just go explore and see what questions and discoveries naturally crop up). That said, this appealed to me because it seemed creative and inspired. It has indeed been an engaging resource that we've enjoyed. I homeschool my almost 10-year-old son, and we've gone through this side-by-side as it's not a topic I know thoroughly enough to handle on my own.
The main pros: I really like the idea of flipping coins to determine traits and building the monster was a fun activity; also, the videos and other content in the slideshow is great.
Main cons: this is obviously designed for a classroom rather than a small homeschool. The info on-screen is meant for the teacher, while the printed pages are handouts for the students, so it's at times very repetitive going between the two, other times less so, where one is more in-depth than the other. It's been a bit disjointed for us trying to figure out what to read and what to skip. Also, it makes one of the charts harder to do, as that requires a group of people to sample, but it's manageable. Lastly, I might have missed something, but to me the information skipped over introducing the term 'allele,' so its first appearance was in a video explaining something else, so I had to pause and clarify before moving on.
Overall ; I would definitely recommend it. Also - I found belatedly there is a shortened version offered for free, which I might have tried if I'd known sooner, but it is nice to have all the information included in this one.
Thank you Jessica for the thorough feedback! We will review the content to incorporate your suggestions such as introducing allele earlier on. Much appreciated!
This was great to use with students as a maker project. They were very engaged throughout the lesson.
My students absolutely LOVED this resource. Their monsters were so cute and fun. All of the activities were fantastic and the students learned a lot about inherited traits!
Used with 5/6 Science. It was great for reviewing and ensuring understanding.
My students loved this resource! They were engaged when testing for their inherited traits and comparing with their classmates. They loved creating their monster and sharing them with the class. Another great resource!
The students really enjoyed all of the lessons. The students favorite part was the engage.
Questions & Answers
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Standards
to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).
NGSS3-5-ETS1-1
Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
NGSSMS-ETS1-1
Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
NGSS3-5-ETS1-2
Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
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