Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A mother horse and her foal in a Texas pasture with matching white blazes on their faces.

Science / All lessons / Plants and Traits

Inherited Traits

Passed from parent to young.

Lesson 39 of 40

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Inherited Traits

A foal looks like its mother. Same color. Same blaze on the face. Her shape is like her parents too.

Traits passed from parents to young are called inherited traits. They are in the living thing from birth.

Plants have them too. A bluebonnet seed grows into a bluebonnet. Not a sunflower. Follow the steps.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Family Resemblance

    20 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Photos of animals and their young
    • Paper
    • Pencil
    • A partner

    Do this

    1. Look at pictures of a parent and young animal.
    2. List three matching traits.
    3. List one that differs.
    4. Do the same for a plant.
    5. Draw the pair.
    6. Label inherited traits.
    7. Share with your partner.
    Write or draw: A table of matching and different traits.

    Watch for: Offspring match their parents in many ways but also show small differences.

    Safety: Use pictures. Do not touch strange animals.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Inherited traits come from parents.

    They are there at birth.

    Rule 2Young look similar but not the same.

    Small differences are normal.

    Rule 3Traits are about both plants and animals.

    Every living thing has them.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    trait
    A feature of a living thing.
    inherited
    Passed from parent to young.
    offspring
    The young of a living thing.
    species
    One kind of living thing.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • How do you know a trait is inherited?
    • What traits do you share with a family member?
    Did you know

    Most Texas bluebonnets are blue. Pink and white ones appear now and then because their seeds carry different traits.

    Someone who does this

    A rancher breeds cattle with traits that fit the land.

    BeforePlant StructuresNext lessonAcquired Traits