Inherited & Acquired Traits

Mrs. Serena’s Favorite Things ©

Adapted by Mrs. P

How are Offspring Like their Parents?Vocab Alert

Young plants and

animals are called

offspring.

Compare and Contrast.Describe ways that they young tiger cub and its

parent are alike and different.

Inherited TraitsOffspring inherit certain traits from their parents. An inherited trait is a characteristic that is passed from parents to offspring.

For example:*Eye color and hair color. *A flower’s color or shape.*The number of arms and legs you have.

Did you know?

The traits of an animal or plant often help it survive in its environment.

THINK ABOUT IT!!!

A frog’s skin color is

inherited. How does

it help the frog

survive?

Acquired TraitsAn acquired trait is a trait that

that an animal, plant or person develops through interactions in their environment.

Pierced ears Leaves turned brownScars on a manatee

Can you identify the acquired traits and the inherited

traits?

Acquired or Inherited?

An oak tree has leaves that look similar to other oak trees.

Inherited trait

Acquired or Inherited?

A person has green eyes.

Inherited trait

Acquired or Inherited?

A mouse with a cut tail.

Acquired trait

Acquired or Inherited?

A brown calf has brown parents.

Inherited trait

Acquired or Inherited?

A fish has gills to breathe underwater.

Inherited trait

Acquired or Inherited?

A tree bent due to the harsh wind blowing.

Acquired trait

Acquired or Inherited?

A shark has scars.

Acquired trait

Acquired or Inherited?

A plant has growths from insect bites.

Acquired trait

Now its your turn….

Let’s make an Inherited traits chart & Acquired traits chart. You will need 1 sheet of copy paper.

Now its your turn….

Write Inherited traits on one side of your paper in the center. Put a circle around it. Do the same for Acquired traits on the back side of your paper.

Your paper should look like

this….

Inherited traits

The back of your paper should

look like this….

Acquired Traits

Now its your turn….

Now you will write at least 3 or more things for each side. Write it neatly. Draw a circle or oval around each one and connect it with a line to the circle in the middle.

For example your paper should

look like this….

Inherited Traits

Eye color

The back of your paper should

look like this….

Acquired traits

Pierced Ears

Now its your turn….

You may work on this within your group. You have 10

minutes.

Exit Ticket

•Explain the difference between an inherited and acquired trait. •Give one example of each.

Your exit ticket will look like this but be smaller. Answer the question and give examples.