Today is rung 4 of 5 on this topic
Traits, inheritance and adaptation
Can do: Distinguishes traits inherited from parents from those caused by environment, and links traits to survival.
Why it matters
It's the foundation of evolution and genetics, and it's fully accessible with a family photo album.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Thinks all traits are inherited, including learned behaviour and injuries.
⏱️ Two-minute check
"Is being tall inherited? What about speaking Spanish? What about a scar?"
Solid looks like: Correct sorting with some reasoning about where each came from.
The full activity for this topic · 20 minutes
Family Traits Survey
- 1List traits: eye colour, hair, attached earlobes, ability to roll a tongue.
- 2Survey everyone in the house and tally the results.
- 3Sort each into inherited, learned, or caused by environment.
- 4Look at a plant or pet and identify traits that help it survive where it lives.
- 5Ask why a trait that helps survival becomes more common over many generations.
If it's too hard
Three traits, just family members present.
If it's too easy
Predict which traits a sibling or cousin would have and check.
Say this
"Did you get that from your parents, or did you learn it, or did something happen to you?"