Topic: Mendelian Genetics and Meiosis

Audience: 9th-12th grade

Worksheet ID: 171887

Summary:
This webquest is designed to help students gain an understanding of how Gregor Mendel
influenced modern day genetics, specifically meiosis, through discovering content on the
Internet. It is an introductory lesson to genetics, punnett squares, and pedigrees. The
students will demonstrate their knowledge and mastery of the material by explaining the
content through a fun and creative talk show video clip. By the end of this webquest, the
students will know who Gregor Mendel is, his two principles (laws), basic genetics, and the
phases of meiosis.
Activities:
The first activity allows the students to view a YouTube video introducing Mendel. The
second activity involves brainstorming key vocabulary and content from prior knowledge.
They will put their vocabulary words and definitions up on Socrative, so that the whole
class can see. This provides the teacher with a quick formative assessment of each
students background knowledge. The third activity provides the students with several
websites to further research Mendel and meiosis with their groups. This is great for
implementing reading and collaboration. The last activity requires students to write a
script for a talk show, where Gregor Mendel meets a modern day scientist. This activity
gives the students practice writing, collaborating, and communicating. It also lets them
synthesize their content knowledge with historical and real world events, while being
creative and innovative.
Cool Websites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mehz7tCxjSE
http://b.socrative.com/teacher/#live-results
http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm
http://www.ck12.org/biology/Meiosis/lesson/Meiosis/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toWK0fIyFlY