Gregor Mendel Monster Traits 3rd Grade STEM Activity NGSS Heredity 3-LS3-2

Integrate STEM in your classroom with this third-grade Life Science STEM activity that encourages students to explore how traits are influenced by environment and inherited.

In the story Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas, we learn about his study of genetics through the traits of plants. We also see how the environment can influence these traits and change them over time.

In this science activity, students look at different traits to determine if they are inherited or environmental. Students create monsters using different traits through a Mendel's Monster game using dice to simulate random traits.

Connect to Read Aloud Story:

It's a great companion to Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe.

Materials:

• monster body copies (included)
• crayons/color sticks/markers
• dice
• Mendel's Monsters body part pages (included)
• trait headers and picture printouts (included)
• Post-its or dry-erase markers

Included:

• Detailed lesson plan
• Printable Monster Trait Cards
• Interactive visuals
• Engaging activities
• Easy-to-follow instructions

Learning Objective

I can find evidence that traits can be influenced by the environment.

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