Inheritance - Teacher Explanation

In this Year 6 lesson on Evolution and Inheritance, students delve into the concept of inheritance, understanding that offspring are similar to but not identical to their parents, as per the National Curriculum. The lesson is devoid of health and safety concerns but does call for sensitivity during the activity titled "My eyes, my parents' eyes," where students compare their own eye colour with that of their parents. This activity may be sensitive for children in foster care, and teachers are advised to approach it with discretion or consider an alternative. The lesson also offers cross-curricular links with geography, art, and maths, allowing students to explore the origins of animals, create insect models, and represent their findings in bar charts.

During the lesson, students engage in practical activities to reinforce their understanding of inheritance. One such activity involves determining the offspring of "Mister Man and Little Miss," where students use a results table to hypothesize parentage and justify their reasoning. They also draw and explain features inherited from each parent. Another hands-on task is the "Model Insects" activity, where children craft an insect offspring from provided craft materials, selecting characteristics from model 'parent' insects and explaining their inheritance choices. Finally, the "Lucky Dip" activity uses coloured counters to demonstrate why siblings are not exact copies of each other, illustrating the randomness of inheritance and the unique combination of traits that result in individual differences among siblings. The lesson is designed to be interactive and engaging, encouraging students to actively participate and apply their understanding of inheritance in creative ways.