Direct your pupils to the 'Genes and inheritance' section of the Science Museum website for some excellent material to show inherited features.

In this Powerpoint you see the effects of cross breeding the popular cartoon characters of the Mr Men and the Little Misses. Six children are seen and the pupils have to work out who the parents are. Useful to initiate characteristics both inherited and environmental. File is compressed for ease of download.

A worksheet looking at characterisitics in five cows and five bulls. Students answer the questions by selecting the correct pair from their description.

A list of questions related to variation and inheriatnce based on the Simpsons' family tree. Includes a reference sheet showing the Simpsons' family tree. Can be used with KS3 or lower ability KS4. Can be done in class or as a homework activity.

A simple laboratory based activity. Extract DNA from bananas using ingredients that can be found in the home and basic lab equipment.

'Climbing the Tree of Life' has teacher's notes and a worksheet with links to the video to help to get your students thinking about evolution and the relationships between different organisms both today and in the past.