TeachersFirst Genetics - Science Resources
Find engaging tools related to genetics in this curated list. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site sounds right for what you want to know. Some sites may be more challenging reading, while others may offer solid basic information. Be sure to try several sources. Some resources offer lesson plans or activities, while others are basic content sites.
Explore our entire list of tagged resources related to genetics.
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DNA, Chromosomes, Genes, and Traits: An Intro to Heredity - Amoeba Sisters
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Before or after the video, provide students with vocabulary cards (e.g., DNA, chromosome, gene, trait, nucleus) and definition cards. Have them match terms to definitions in small groups, sparking discussion and pre-assessing understanding. Ask students to create a visual flowchart illustrating how DNA influences a trait, using examples such as eye color or hair texture. They should include steps like gene expression and protein formation. The flow chart can be made with a digital tool such as Canva Infographic Creator < a href="/single.cfm?id=17570">reviewed here or MindMup, reviewed here. Using coins or spinners to represent alleles from two "parents," students can simulate the inheritance of traits (like dimples, tongue rolling, etc.) for an imaginary offspring. Then, they can draw their "baby" and describe the inherited traits that it will possess.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Easy to Understand: Intro to Genetics - Miss Angler
Grades
6 to 8This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Have students complete a quick survey of simple traits (e.g., attached earlobes, tongue rolling, dimples) and tally class data. Use it as an intro to discuss dominant vs. recessive traits. Give students cards labeled with alleles (ex., B and b for eye color) and have them pair up to "create" offspring. Each student picks one card from each "parent" and determines the resulting trait. Students can make a mini flipbook or digital book using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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It's In Your Genes - Donna Lasher
Grades
K to 8In the Classroom
Have students use colored beads or paper slips to simulate dominant and recessive allele combinations. Students build a 3D DNA model using pipe cleaners, beads, or pasta to represent base pairs. Students extract visible DNA from strawberries using household materials (salt, dish soap, alcohol). Create bingo cards using Bingo Creator, reviewed here with inherited traits (ex., widow's peak, attached earlobes), and students mark traits they or classmates have.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Biology Corner - Shannan Muskopf
Grades
8 to 12In the Classroom
Have students use colored paper to represent alleles and "breed" pets with various traits (such as fur color and eye shape). Students can flip coins to simulate inheritance of traits, recording genotypes and phenotypes. Printable worksheets challenge students to solve monohybrid and dihybrid crosses and apply vocabulary such as homozygous and heterozygous. Have students investigate real-world genetic conditions (ex., sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis), exploring inheritance patterns and societal impact.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Genetic Literacy - GLP Library
Grades
9 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): agriculture (53), dna (52), genetics (87), infographics (60), podcasts (137), sustainability (53)
In the Classroom
Assign students an article from the GLP homepage and have them summarize it for the class. Have students explore GLP's infographics (ex., GMO safety, gene editing regulations) and create a presentation using Visme, reviewed here or Google Slides, reviewed here explaining the data and implications. Students can utilize GLP's Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker to explore how various countries regulate gene editing and present their findings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teach Genetics and Heredity with Free STEM Lessons - Science Buddies
Grades
K to 12tag(s): dna (52), genetics (87), scientific method (50), STEM (330)
In the Classroom
Using paper or modeling supplies, students can simulate inheritance using "Reebops," fictional marshmallow creatures with traits passed from parent to offspring, by creating Punnett squares. Students can create stop motion videos using Cloud Stop Motion, reviewed here to record the Reebop construction process. Have students test their ability to detect PTC paper and relate the results to a specific gene variation. Students can use a genetics key to "breed" alien offspring based on specific trait combinations. Students can then translate a DNA sequence into a color-coded bracelet (A = red, T = green, etc.).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Genetics and Heredity - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Watch a short video, such as "What Are Traits?", and have students list visible traits they observe in their classmates, such as dimples and eye color. Ask students to record their data and share the results using a simple graph creator tool such as Data GIF Maker, reviewed here. Include interactive media, such as the "Heredity Interactive Lesson," in your activities, where students match traits to their parents and offspring. Students can use dice rolls to determine the traits of a fictional insect (antennae type, wing shape, etc.). Have students interview family members about physical traits (ex., hair type, eye color) and build a visual "trait tree."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Padlet TA - Padlet
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (217), assessment (134), images (258), qr codes (15), quizzes (86), rubrics (35), Teacher Utilities (198), worksheets (71)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save Padlet TA as a handy tool for creating professional and classroom resources. As always, verifying the accuracy of AI-generated content is essential. Share Padlet TA with parents and caregivers to create quizzes, worksheets, and leveled text as a study aid at home. Use the Smart Group creator to create random groups for station rotations or class projects and the Name Picker to choose student names for multiple purposes or as part of lessons on probability. Generate AI images for creative writing projects or as a tool for creating presentation images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Wonder of Science - Paul Andersen
Grades
K to 12tag(s): biodiversity (36), chemicals (39), climate (89), earth (183), ecology (107), ecosystems (93), energy (137), environment (252), forces (43), genetics (87), life cycles (22), light (56), matter (48), molecules (43), motion (52), oceans (144), planets (118), sound (72), space (231), stars (77), weather (163)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-have for all science teachers to use to find high-quality lessons and teaching materials. Be sure to visit the Phenomena section to find the Master List of Phenomenon Google Document sharing suggestions for observable science events or find phenomena by grade level. Engage students in learning by sharing videos on this site, then use edpuzzle, reviewed here to add questions and focus comments to the videos to support student learning. Use the ideas and resources on this site to create flipped and blended learning lessons or to create playlists to encourage student choice of learning activities. Learn more about playlists by viewing the archive of OK2Ask: Playlists to Personalize Learning, reviewed here and learn about choice boards at the OK2Ask archive: Choice Boards for Differentiation Part 1, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Geniventure - The Concord Consortium
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): game based learning (214), genetics (87)
In the Classroom
Geniventure is free and easy for teachers to use. You can create classes, assign activities, save student work, and track student progress. Sessions couple online gameplay with hands-on activities and labs conceptually linked to a part of the Geniventure game. All materials for Geniventure sessions are available, including daily session schedules, activity outlines lesson plans, PowerPoint slides, lists of materials for each activity, and support for English as a New Language/English Language learners (ENL/ELL). The materials are targeted toward middle school students, but can also be used in higher grade levels.Comments
I am hoping to use this with my 8th graders for an extension activity.Jennifer, MI, Grades: 9 - 12
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Science with the Amoeba Sisters - Sarina Peterson and Brianna Rapini
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): body systems (40), cells (85), ecology (107), genetics (87), human body (93), mitosis (9)
In the Classroom
Biology teachers will want to book this site for use throughout the school year! Use the videos as a schema activator to engage students as you introduce new concepts. Add questions and comments to videos using edPuzzle, reviewed here, to enhance learning and student focus. Add your video and additional teaching materials to Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, to create interactive lessons that include links to videos, handouts, interactive simulations, and images. Ask students to share their learning by offering a variety of multimedia options. For example, ask students to use Genially, reviewed here, to create an interactive diagram, or create an explainer video using a video creation tool such as Powtoon, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mensa for Kids - Mensa Foundation
Grades
K to 9tag(s): africa (172), colors (64), genetics (87), geometric shapes (138), gifted (64), hurricanes (34), literature (219), probability (99), STEM (330), stories and storytelling (65), writing (311)
In the Classroom
Enrollment in Mensa isn't required to take advantage of the many resources found on this site for all students. Use the reading lists as a starting point for stocking your class library or a student reading list for the current school year. Encourage students to complete the reading list and return to Mensa for a free t-shirt. Incorporate the lesson plans into your existing curriculum, then differentiate learning as you adapt to student needs. For example, use the Book Review Writing lesson to help students understand the difference between reviews and reports. This lesson also includes specific information on what to have with book reports. Begin by teaching this lesson in small groups, then use FigJam, reviewed here, to create a frame for each of the main topics. Enhance student learning by asking students to add sticky notes with their observations and thoughts. Have your group work together to share their book review using a simple to use blogging tool such as Telegraph, reviewed here. Extend learning further by creating a class podcast sharing book reviews created through the lesson process found on Mensa for Kids. Buzzsprout, reviewed here, is a free tool for creating and publishing podcasts that is appropriate for students of all ages. Use Buzzsprout to record and share book reviews throughout the school year.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bioicons - Simon Duerr
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): animals (295), cells (85), charts and graphs (167), genetics (87), images (258), molecules (43), STEM (330)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use in science classrooms throughout the year. Include images with research projects and science presentations. Make images interactive using Image Annotator, reviewed here. Use Image Annotator for students to add hotspots within the images to label and describe different features such as different parts of a cell. Add an image to an interactive IdeaBoardz, reviewed here, and ask students to add sticky notes sharing what they know about the image or what they need to learn. Include images in student presentations created using Sway, reviewed here, as a final project to show what they know. The uses are endless, be sure to save this site and share it with students in many different ways. Be sure to emphasize proper attribution of images when using this site or any other images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Numerade - Numerade.com
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): chemicals (39), genetics (87), statistics (117), STEM (330), test prep (68), variables (14)
In the Classroom
Numerade features video lessons from many different textbooks, making it a useful resource to supplement current classroom content. Check to see if your current textbooks are available, including videos as a part of a playlist to share with students. Take advantage of the playlists as a resource for homework or remote learning lessons. Use the videos found on this site as a model for students to share and explain their solutions to math and science problems. Incorporate a Padlet, reviewed here, assignment to post questions for student response, and ask them to use the Brainstorming Board feature to share solutions and their problem-solving process. This is a link to Padlet's Help section for posting video or an image. Consider sharing videos with advanced students to use as a resource for working ahead within textbooks, or by assigning a different textbook than used in class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adobe Education Khan + Create Activities - Adobe Education and Khan Academy
Grades
K to 12tag(s): branches of government (66), cells (85), digital storytelling (151), environment (252), genetics (87), geometric shapes (138), grammar (139), landmarks (20), map skills (63), molecules (43), multiplication (120), Online Learning (32), parts of speech (38), Problem Based Learning (11), problem solving (245), Project Based Learning (24), Research (78), social and emotional learning (111), STEM (330), stories and storytelling (65)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this excellent site to use as a resource for finding and developing lessons for both in-person and online learning. Lessons found on this site includes links to videos and articles found on the Khan Academy website, use bookmarking and collaborative resources such as Symbaloo EDU, reviewed here, or Padlet, reviewed here, to share the Khan Academy links along with other helpful resources for students. Use a word cloud tool like Aha Slides, reviewed here, to motivate and encourage students to think about the topics shared at the beginning of your activities. If you prefer to use additional multimedia resources in addition to the Adobe products shared in the lessons, browse through the TeachersFirst Edge Tools, reviewed here, to find additional tools for creating videos, webpages, collaboration, and much more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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STEM Resource Finder - The Concord Consortium
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animals (295), cells (85), dna (52), earthquakes (49), engineering (141), equations (119), genetics (87), measurement (124), plants (150), pollution (54), problem solving (245), space (231), stars (77), STEM (330), temperature (32), weather (163)
In the Classroom
Be sure to bookmark this site as a resource for many interactives and activities for teaching STEM topics. Place students in cooperative groups to complete activities or share ideas from this site for science fair projects. Ask students to share their research and projects and extend their learning using a tool like bulb, reviewed here. bulb offers a variety of options for building a personalized webpage without knowledge of coding.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Decoding Cancer - Discovery Education
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): genetics (87), human body (93), medicine (57)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans (provided in PowerPoint format) and interactives for use when teaching genetics, health, or biology lessons. Be sure to share this site with students interested in medical careers and gifted learners. After learning about cancer, have students create a multimedia presentation using Presentious, reviewed here. Challenge students to share their findings on cancer treatments and research. Sign up for Decoding Cancer to receive updates and notification of new site additions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Science in the Classroom - Science in the Classroom
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): animals (295), cells (85), diseases (66), drugs and alcohol (27), genetics (87), human body (93), medicine (57), plants (150), STEM (330)
In the Classroom
Science in the Classroom is a must-add to any high school classroom. View articles together on your interactive whiteboard as you add highlighted annotations to focus on the content. Alternatively, print a copy of the article and have students add highlights to compare to the site's highlighted portions. Be sure to help weaker readers and ESL/ELL students by sharing the vocabulary words before reading, either on a handout or by projecting on an interactive whiteboard or screen and highlighting them in the text as you come to them. Flip learning by having students read an article before coming to class, ask them to prepare questions they have for when they return to class. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Venngage, reviewed here. Use an online flashcard maker, like Flashcard Stash, reviewed here, to review important vocabulary or content from any article.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teach.Genetics - Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): body systems (40), evolution (87), genealogy (8), genetics (87), heart (27), human body (93)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many free educational materials for use in your science classroom. Use materials from this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Share topics from Teach.Genetics with students for use with science fair projects. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Presentious, reviewed here. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. Use a tool such as bubbl.us, reviewed here, to create and share the concept maps of information included with activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Untamed Science - Rob Nelson
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): amphibians (17), animals (295), biomes (110), cells (85), ecology (107), evolution (87), fish (17), genetics (87), mammals (22), planets (118), reptiles (12)
In the Classroom
Use videos from this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Create a link to videos (or use the embed code from the YouTube page) on your class website or blog for students to view at home. Enhance learning and challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own science videos modeled after these using FlexClip, reviewed here. FlexClip is designed to allow you to create short animated or explainer videos to share on YouTube and other social media sites; then, share them on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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