Prepare for lesson:

1. Review Ear Lobe activity guide
2. Print out copies of Ear Sort Handout for each group of youth (2-3 youth per group)
3. Scissors per group
4. Class camera (can be camera phone) with ability to print images
5. Optional: Take pictures of the ears of youth and print them out in the same size format as the handouts

During the lesson:

1. Discuss the concept of genetic traits.
2. Ask youth to define a genetic trait.
3. Have youth give examples of traits they may have inherited from family members. Write these examples on the board.
4. Introduce the Ear Activity.
5. Have groups cut out the ears into cards.
6. Have youth make observations in their small groups. What do they notice about the ears?
7. Have groups share out.
8. Have them share out. How easy was it to do? Why or why not?
9. What other genetic traits could we organize into discrete groups? What about continuous order?
10. Ask class, how do they think they behaved as STEM professionals in this activity?