Genetic Traits in Harry Potter
Genetics is typically a favorite unit for most middle schoolers because they love to learn about themselves. Tie that inherent desire to learn with a conceptual vehicle like Harry Potter and you have a winning website that teachers and students will love! This site was developed in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a trusted name in science education. The site is filled with links to online resources, PowerPoint lectures, and student activities that take the learner through the world of Harry Potter through the eyes of a budding geneticist. This site provides instructional PowerPoints that allow the teacher to lead students through basic concepts in Mendelian genetics. The students then follow up this instruction with an activity to enhance the learning. These activities are all based on the magical world of Harry Potter. This could be used as a whole unit or as a summative assessment after completing a unit on genetics.