4.10B: Traits
Organisms and Environments
Categorizing Traits
Description
Students categorize trait cards as “Inherited” or “Learned.”
Materials
1 Attachment: Photo Cards (per group)
1 Attachment: Trait Activity Cards (per student)
Construction paper (per student)
Card stock (per group)
Markers (per student)
Glue (per student)
Scissors (per student)
Procedure
1.  Begin the lesson by asking the students, “What traits have you inherited? What traits have
you acquired? What behaviors have you learned?” Use the Photo Cards to continue the
discussion.
2.  Continue by working with the Trait Activity Cards. You may want to have the students work
individually or in pairs. Each student or set of students will need the following: construction
paper, scissors, glue, marker, and a copy of the activity cards.
3.  Have the students divide a piece of construction paper in half. Have the students use a
marker to label one side of the construction paper with the title “Inherited Traits” and the
other side “Learned Behaviors.”
4.  Tell the students to cut out the trait cards. After carefully reading and thinking about each
trait, the students will then place each trait card in the correct section of the piece of
construction paper.
5.  Have the students glue the cards down once their work has been checked for accuracy.
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4.10B: Traits
Organisms and Environments
Guiding Points
•  The students need to differentiate between an inherited trait and a learned behavior. Plenty of
questions and examples will help the students demonstrate knowledge of this TEK.
•  Some traits may be acquired rather than learned. For example, a poodle has a distinctive haircut.
Call on volunteers to give examples of traits they have learned and traits they have acquired.
Guiding Questions
1. Picture 1: This man has dimples in his cheeks. Are dimples an inherited trait or a learned
behavior? Can you identify other inherited traits in this picture?
2. Picture 2: This athlete is a competitive swimmer. Is swimming an inherited trait or a learned
behavior?
3. Picture 3: Where is the raccoon in this picture finding his food? Is this behavior inherited or
learned? Why might a raccoon dig around in a trash can? Can you identify examples of inherited
traits in this picture?
4. Picture 4: Look at this kitten. It has a tortoiseshell fur pattern. Is this fur pattern an inherited trait
or a learned behavior? Explain how the kitten acquired its fur pattern. Imagine what a kitten would
look like if it had a tortoiseshell pattern mama and an orange striped papa.
5. What are some examples of traits you have inherited?
6. What are some examples of behaviors you have learned?
Attachments
Photo Cards
Trait Activity Cards
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4.10B: Traits
Organisms and Environments
1 Attachment: Photo Cards
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4.10B: Traits
Organisms and Environments
1 Attachment: Trait Activity Cards
Dimples
Hitchhiker’s thumb
Tongue rolling
Attached or
unattached
earlobes
Cleft chin
Green eyes
Curly hair (natural)
Freckles
Colorblindness
Tortoiseshell fur
pattern on a cat
Dark green leaves Magenta petals on
on an ivy plant
a flower
Ability of a mouse
to learn a maze
Professional
athletic ability
Skunk’s ability to
Stripes on a tiger
spray
Cursive writing
Blonde hair
(natural)
Flavor of fruit from
different apple
trees
Shape of parrot
beak
Tree height
Long neck of a
giraffe
Calluses on fingers
Ability to speak
French
Knowledge of
multiplication facts
Music ability of a
piano player
Scars on a
person’s leg
Pierced ears
Table manners
Ability of a pet dog Ability to recite the
to retrieve the
“Pledge of
Dislike of broccoli
newspaper
Allegiance”
Ability to use a
skateboard
Widow’s peak
Love of chocolate
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