Inventory of My Traits

This is a lesson in which students take an inventory of their own easily observable genetic traits. While working in small groups, they observe how their trait inventories differ from those of others. Students record their observations in a data table and make a bar graph to show. Includes a fun optional activity in which students predict the number of traits it will take to distinguish a student volunteer from everyone else in the class. Includes a math extension in which students calculate the frequency of traits in their classroom, then compare their calculations with given frequencies for the general population.

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Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives:

Learning Objectives:

Traits are observable characteristics that are passed down from parent to child.
An individual will have many traits they share in common with others.
An individual’s overall combination of traits makes them unique.
Some traits are more common in a population than others.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Applying

Extension suggestions:

Math extension:

Have students practice converting fractions to decimals, then decimals into percentages by calculatig the frequency of the following traits in your classroom: tongue rolling, handedness and hand clasping.
Students can then compare their calculated frequencies with those for the general population (provided in the table below).

Example: # of students with the trait/# of students in the class x 100 = ________%
15 tongue rollers / 21 students in the class x 100 = 71%

Helpful Hints

Materials:

Copies of student pages

References

Contributors:

Karla Fultz

Originator:

Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation