My Structured Inquiry Lesson was centered around our unit on genetics.  In the lesson, students created fish based on the given traits of the “parents.”  They flipped a coin (incorporating the probability aspect of genetics) to determine whether the recessive or dominant allele was being passed on from the parent to the offspring. They were given a data chart to organize their work and a list of the various traits along with pictures of many of them (i.e. tail shape, eye shape, fin size and shape, and body shape).  After gathering their data, students used the genotypes and phenotypes of their offspring fish to create a visual representation of the newly created fish.  The students did this by drawing and coloring their fish. 

Students really enjoyed this activity and were engaged throughout.  I could definitely tell that learning was taking place based on my observations of them and a concluding class discussion.  The vocabulary and genetics concepts targeted in this lesson are easily understood through the use of the graphic organizer (data chart).  The three student work samples included show that students have gained a better understanding of dominant and recessive traits, genotypes, phenotypes, and how traits are passed from parent to offspring.

Please click here to view my student work samples.