TeachersFirst's 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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The Wonder of Science - Paul Andersen
Grades
K to 12tag(s): biodiversity (34), chemicals (41), climate (83), earth (186), ecology (102), ecosystems (76), energy (132), environment (246), forces (37), genetics (81), life cycles (21), light (53), matter (46), molecules (44), motion (50), oceans (149), planets (112), sound (73), space (216), stars (70), weather (161)
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.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Geniventure - The Concord Consortium
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): gamification (79), genetics (81)
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 (41), cells (83), ecology (102), genetics (81), human body (94), 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 (142), colors (63), genetics (81), geometric shapes (135), gifted (65), hurricanes (33), literature (219), probability (97), STEM (279), stories and storytelling (50), writing (323)
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 (288), cells (83), charts and graphs (171), genetics (81), images (260), molecules (44), STEM (279)
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 Google Jamboard, 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 (41), genetics (81), statistics (120), STEM (279), test prep (68), variables (14), video (262)
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 (64), cells (83), digital storytelling (152), environment (246), genetics (81), geometric shapes (135), grammar (134), landmarks (20), map skills (56), molecules (44), multiplication (121), Online Learning (42), parts of speech (40), Problem Based Learning (12), problem solving (226), Project Based Learning (26), Research (84), social and emotional learning (96), STEM (279), stories and storytelling (50)
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 WordClouds, 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 (288), cells (83), dna (43), earthquakes (45), engineering (126), equations (119), genetics (81), measurement (124), plants (148), pollution (51), problem solving (226), space (216), stars (70), STEM (279), temperature (34), weather (161)
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 (81), human body (94), medicine (56)
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 (288), cells (83), diseases (69), drugs and alcohol (28), genetics (81), human body (94), medicine (56), plants (148), STEM (279)
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 (41), evolution (88), genealogy (8), genetics (81), heart (27), human body (94)
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 (288), biomes (112), cells (83), ecology (102), evolution (88), fish (18), genetics (81), mammals (23), planets (112), reptiles (12), video (262)
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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CK-12 - CK-12 Foundation
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): atoms (44), cells (83), charts and graphs (171), decades (7), energy (132), equations (119), fractions (157), genetics (81), inequalities (24), landforms (37), measurement (124), oceans (149), organisms (15), periodic table (46), probability (97), pythagorean theorem (18), rocks (35), scientific method (48), seasons (37), solar energy (34), solar system (109), statistics (120), STEM (279), test prep (68), variables (14)
In the Classroom
Introduce CK-12 to your students (and parents) on your interactive whiteboard and demonstrate ways to use the site at home. Be sure to create a link to the site on your class website or blog for easy access at any time. Create an account and upload your own resources and activities to create your own flexbooks for use with students. CK-12 is available in many languages. Use this site with your ESL/ELL students as a supplement to classroom resources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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DNA From the Beginning
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
The content is "real world" and could also be a great review or brush-up for teachers who haven't encountered this material in a while.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wellcome Trust Education Resources - Wellcome Trust Center
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
Find fascinating articles and activities to push science topics into more relevant terms. In a unit of Genetics, discuss the Genome Project and its advantages and issues. Read articles and discuss the similarities in human genetics to that of other organisms. Click on "How Unique Are You?" to learn more about common traits such as tongue rolling and hairlines. Follow the registration on this page (username and password only) to find how your traits compare to others. Find lesson plans for many of the topics in these sections including the DNA Database and the issues surrounding its use. Use these resources to further understand what is learned in the classroom and bring to light many of the issues of today. Use the information for class debates or position papers, letters to the editor, or poster campaigns. Have your students try something other than PowerPoint and create a Prezi presentation, reviewed here, all about a topic they explored on this site (independently or with a partner).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Gene Scene - American Museum of Natural History
Grades
3 to 8In the Classroom
Assign students to explore a section and complete the genetic journey then use the computers to organize data and graph their D.N.A. findings. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to share and compare findings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tour of the Basics: Heredity - University of Utah
Grades
8 to 10In the Classroom
Before using this site, you may want to assess what students know about DNA, and genetics. Put together an assessment asking about basic information using a tool like SurveyPlanet, reviewed here, where you can use a variety of formats including multiple choice, open-ended, images, and more. Then have students preview the first exercise for words they don't know and create flashcards using Flashcard Stash, reviewed here. After completion of the exercise, ask students to reflect on their learning using Flip, reviewed here. Flip allows students to share video responses through collaborative comments and discussions. Require students to comment on at least 3 other students learning reflections. Be sure you've coached students in proper discussion etiquette whether online or in class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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DNA Interactive
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
Use the interactive timeline as a learning center. Have students tour the timeline, with the purposes of finding what they think are the 10 most important events in the history of DNA. Have students create a multimedia presentation of their top 10 events using PowerPoint Online, reviewed here. This site allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate their photos as if it is a news report. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Pikwizard, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Genetics & Medical Research - National Institutes of Health
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): genetics (81)
In the Classroom
Start out with this site on your interactive whiteboard or with a projector and the introduction pointing out the list of topics to explore. Ask all students to explore The Genetic Basics noting important information and questions they may have with Memo Notepad, reviewed here; tell students to be sure to save the URL to share their notes and questions with you and their peers. Once students have a basic understanding of genes have small groups investigate the other topics continuing with taking notes or organizing the information using an online concept map such as MindMup, reviewed here, to use in a final presentation. For the final assessment challenge student groups to present their topic to their peers using an interactive poster creator like Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NTTI Science Lessons - NTTI/WNET
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
The lesson plans here are excellent! Choose from many lessons (levels 4-12) to use in class to save you time. All lessons have a summary explaining what you and students will encounter with that lesson. Some example titles are The Ladder of Life where through video and Web-based activities, the students will develop a greater understanding of what DNA does in a cell. Students will be able to assemble DNA parts in order to simulate DNA strands. They will also have the opportunity to experimentally view DNA through an extraction technique included in the lesson. Another is Evolution: Its Effect Throughout Geological Time and the Controversy where students review the basics of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. They use the World Wide Web to explore the various stages of evolution, over geological time, and learn how each organism fits into the evolutionary story. These are just two representatives of how the many lessons are presented.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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