Seventh graders studying our genetic make-up get an exciting opportunity to see how math and science connect in real, meaningful ways. As they explore inherited traits, Punnett squares, and patterns of variation, students apply fractions and ratios to predict the likelihood of certain traits appearing in offspring. They even extracted DNA from strawberries, giving them a hands-on look at the molecules behind these mathematical patterns. This helps them understand that genetics isn’t just abstract biology—it’s a system built on real data and mathematical relationships. Using these tools, students interpret real-world results, calculate probabilities, and make sense of how traits are passed from one generation to the next.
