What are Inherited Traits vs Learned Behaviours?

Inherited traits are characteristics or behaviours that have been passed from parent to offspring by genetics. Learned behaviours are actions or behaviours that animals are taught to perform or that are learned from their experiences.

Explaining Inherited and Learned Behaviours to Your Students

Need some help explaining the difference to your students? Here’s a little help!

Inherited traits are characteristics you get from your parents, like the colour of your eyes or the shape of your nose, which are determined by a set of instructions you inherit. On the other hand, learned behaviours are things you pick up as you grow and experience life, such as riding a bike or playing a sport. Inherited traits make you similar to your family, while learned behaviours are skills you acquire by practising and observing the world around you.

This printable poster is perfect for your science classroom to help students differentiate between inherited and learned behaviours.

Print out on tabloid paper and display in the classroom for students to reference throughout your biological sciences unit. Or print it out on letter-size paper and have students glue it into their science book to reference at home or while working in small groups.

This teaching resource is available in two different versions:

• using real-life photos
• using illustrations.

Even More Traits and Adaptations Activities

Don’t go yet! We’ve got even more resources to help you teach your students about acquired and inherited traits! Make sure you grab these before you go

teaching resource

How Living Things Survive – Teaching Presentation

Use this 13-slide teaching presentation to teach your students about the basic needs and physical characteristics of animals and plants.

teaching resource

Amphibians vs Reptiles Worksheet Pack

Compare Amphibians vs. Reptiles and their characteristics with our printable animal comparison worksheets.