Bearded Wormfly Activity
Name: __________________________
3rd Grade PSI
-----------------------------------------------Activity/Lab Question:
How do inherited traits lead to variation?
Before You Begin:
What are traits?
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What is a variation in a trait? Give an example.
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Purpose:
In this activity, you will investigate how the same parents can
create offspring with variation in traits.
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3rd Grade PSI
Inheritance of Traits
Materials (per student):
 1 dice
Scenario:
You are a famous scientist who studies insects in the
rainforest. During your most recent trip, you discovered a new
insect! You have named the insect the Bearded Wormfly. You
have brought a male and female insect back home to your lab so
that you can study them. You want to analyze the traits of the new
insect, as well as all the possible variations for those traits.
You place the two insects in a comfortable terrarium with
plenty of food and shelter. You then watch for any offspring, in
order to analyze the variation of traits.
Procedure:
 Below is a chart showing the different traits of the new
insect. The chart also shows the variation of the two insects
that you brought home from the rainforest.
Trait
Body sections
Eyes
Legs per body section
Wings
Color
Whiskers on chin
Antenna
Male Variation
3
1 large
6
1 pair
Blue
7
4
Female Variation
5
3 small
4
2 pairs
Yellow
3
2
 First, determine the traits that will be present in the first
offspring.
 Turn to the data chart “Offspring #1”.
 For each trait, roll the dice. Depending on the number
you roll, determine what variation the offspring will
have. For example, if you roll a “2” for the trait body
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3rd Grade PSI
Inheritance of Traits
sections, the offspring will have 3 body sections.
 Roll the dice for each trait and fill in the chart with the
variation of the offspring.
 Draw a picture of the offspring.
 Turn to the data chart “Offspring #2”. Follow the same
directions above to determine the variations present in
offspring #2. Draw a picture of the offspring.
 Turn to the data chart “Offspring #3”. Follow the same
directions above to determine the variations present in
offspring #2. Draw a picture of the offspring.
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3rd Grade PSI
Inheritance of Traits
Data:
Offspring #1
Trait
Body sections
Eyes
Legs per
section
Wings
Color
Whiskers on
chin
Antenna
If you roll 1-3
If you roll 4-6
3
Variation in
offspring
5
1 big
3 small
6
4
1 pair
2 pairs
Blue
Yellow
7
3
4
2
Picture of Offspring #1:
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3rd Grade PSI
Inheritance of Traits
Offspring #2
Trait
Body sections
Eyes
Legs per
section
Wings
Color
Whiskers on
chin
Antenna
If you roll 1-3
If you roll 4-6
3
Variation in
offspring
5
1 big
3 small
6
4
1 pair
2 pairs
Blue
Yellow
7
3
4
2
Picture of Offspring #2:
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3rd Grade PSI
Inheritance of Traits
Offspring #3
Trait
Body sections
Eyes
Legs per
section
Wings
Color
Whiskers on
chin
Antenna
If you roll 1-3
If you roll 4-6
3
Variation in
offspring
5
1 big
3 small
6
4
1 pair
2 pairs
Blue
Yellow
7
3
4
2
Picture of Offspring #3:
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3rd Grade PSI
Inheritance of Traits
Analysis
1. From where did each offspring get their traits?
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2. The three offspring are siblings. What do they have in
common?
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3. Did any of the offspring look exactly alike? Why or why not?
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www.njctl.org
3rd Grade PSI
Inheritance of Traits