Teaching Genetics and Punnett Squares

Kids love genetics and Punnett squares, and teachers love teaching it. Here are some genetics and Punnett square activities that are low prep and no-prep!

1. When I present new material, I often use a slideshow. Since we started distance learning, I’ve been using hyperdocs and interactive notebooks to accompany my slideshows.
2. Phenotype/genotype activities. Create a list of characteristics for a jack-o-lantern, leprechaun,

   

   Christmas tree, smiley face, reindeer, snowman, or monster and make options dominant and recessive. Then have students toss 2 coins to see if the jack-o-lantern or snowman is homozygous dominant, heterozygous, or homozygous recessive for each trait. Finish up by having students draw the character.

3. Practice vocabulary with Boom cards, task cards, magic picture reveal digital worksheets, and crossword puzzles.
4. Practice Punnett Squares. Students love them, and the more interesting you can make them the better! Use simple Mendelian traits like widow’s peak, hitchhikers thumb and the ability to roll your tongue (all of which are dominant) are commonly used in middle school classrooms but  waking up early and sneezing in the sun are also dominant traits that kids will find engaging.
5. Incorporate research into your genetics unit. Students will enjoy learning about hemophilia, Marfan syndrome, sickle cell disease, and albinism, all of which are inherited by simple Mendelian genetics.
6. Try dihybrid crosses – yellow tall pea plants x green short pea plants. If you start with an interactive notebook, your students can follow along as you demonstrate how to determine the offspring and many middle school students will be able to complete one on their own with enough practice!
7. Reinforce with games. Try I Have, Who has or try an escape room. Create your own file folder game or have students create their own games.
8. Assess with regular tests, Google forms quizzes, or  choice boards.