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 Behaviors 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 color of your eyes or the shape of your nose, which are determined by a set of instructions you inherit. On the other hand, learned behaviors 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 behaviors are skills you acquire by practicing 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 out on letter-size paper and have students glue 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

Plant & Animal Adaptations Poster Set

Display these informative posters in your 2nd grade classroom to remind students of the five ways animals and plants adapt to seasonal changes in their environment.

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Punnett Square Worksheets

Predict the possible outcomes of combined traits of plants with a printable Punnett Square worksheet.

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Plant Adaptations - Research Task Cards

Research behavioral, structural, and physiological adaptations with printable plant adaptation task cards.