4.10B: Traits
Organisms and Environments
Sample Student Answers
How Can We Classify Traits and Behaviors as Inherited or
Learned?
Part I: Traits Cards
Inherited Traits
How do you know these are
inherited traits?
ATTACHED/UNATTACHED EARLOBE
COLOR OF EYES
COLOR OF GOLDFISH
SHAPE AND COLOR OF LEAF
FRECKLES
DIMPLES
ROLLING YOUR TOUNGE
THESE ARE TRAITS THAT HAVE BEEN
PASSED DOWN FROM PARENTS. IT IS
SOMETHING A PERSON IS BORN WITH.
Learned Behaviors
How do you know these are learned
behaviors?
GUIDE DOG LEADING HUMAN
ANIMAL USING A TOOL
DOLPHIN JUMPING A HOOP
PARROT SAYING HELLO
PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT
READING A BOOK
RIDING A BIKE
WRITING AN ESSAY
SEAL BALANCING A BALL ON ITS NOSE
THESE ARE BEHAVIORS THAT A PERSON IS
TAUGHT AFTER BIRTH.
What is the difference between inherited traits and learned behaviors? How can
you tell the difference? AN INHERITED TRAIT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE
BORN WITH, AND A LEARNED BEHAVIOR IS SOMETHING YOU ARE
TAUGHT. YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BY ASKING THE QUESTION, “IS
IT SOMETHING I WAS BORN WITH OR IS IT SOMETHING I WAS TAUGHT TO
DO?”.
4.10B: Traits
Organisms and Environments
Sample Student Answers
Part II: Student Traits
Color the boxes with inherited traits red and learned behaviors blue.
Has curly hair
Has green eyes
Plays an
instrument
Has detached
earlobes
Can do the
moonwalk
Has blonde hair
Is the tallest in the
class
Has brown eyes
Can play cards
Is right-handed
Has dimples
Can roll tongue
Has an allergy
Has freckles
Can write in
cursive
Has a widow’s
peak
Has attached
earlobes
Has the right
thumb over the
left when clasping
hands
Has a cleft chin
Can do a
cartwheel
Is left-handed
Can play
basketball
Has brown hair
Can speak
another language