Halloween STEM: Monster Genetics
Updated: December 27, 2024
Type: Seasonal/Holiday STEM Activity
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Who doesn’t love monsters? This Halloween, task your students with designing and building a unique monster using any available supplies in your classroom! The twist is that students must first flip a coin to determine which features are included in the monster design. This Halloween monster STEM activity is a perfect introduction to genetics!
This fun lesson is intended to guide students in elementary and middle school through a design challenge using recycled materials. Students should complete this hands-on monster engineering design challenge as a foundation for a deeper understanding of genetic concepts. In this decontextualized activity, students will design their own genetically unique monster, based on 2 variations of 8 different features (traits). Students will flip a coin to see how the features (traits) are expressed in their monster. Students will build a 3D version of their monster.
Recommended Materials:
Paper tubes
Styrofoam or plastic cups
Paper boxes
Pipe cleaners
Craft sticks
Toothpicks
Googly eyes
Pom poms
Tape
Scissors
Rubber Bands
Straws
Other misc. craft/building material
Related Vivify Lessons
This product is a decontextualized activity that does not cover full genetics topics. The full lesson, Genetics STEM Unit: Monster Engineering Challenge-5E Science Lesson, can be found below along with our hybrid genetics STEM unit.
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