Grade 3 · Science · Life science

3rd Grade Inherited Traits and Variation worksheets

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Inherited Traits and Variation

Grade 3 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the answer.

1.
Which trait did a kitten inherit from its parents?
- a scratch on its nose
- its name
- its eye color
2.
Which is a learned behavior for a dog?
- having floppy ears
- sitting when asked
- having brown fur
3.
A duckling has webbed feet like its parents. How did it get webbed feet?
- it inherited them from its parents
- it learned to grow them by swimming
- it got them from eating pond plants
4.
Which trait of a sunflower comes from its parent plants?
- a stem bent by a strong wind
- a leaf with a hole chewed in it
- the yellow color of its petals
5.
Four puppies from the same parents have black, brown, white and spotted fur. What does this show?
- fur color is learned
- the puppies have different parents
- young from the same parents can look different
6.
A girl can ride a bike. How did she get this skill?
- she was born knowing how
- she inherited it from her parents
- she learned it by practicing
7.
Bean seeds from one bean plant grow into new plants. What will their leaves most likely look like?
- shaped like oak leaves
- a new shape on every plant
- shaped like the parent plant's leaves
8.
Which trait of a horse is inherited?
- a shoe nailed to its hoof
- the color of its coat
- knowing how to jump a fence
9.
A parrot can say 'hello.' Is this inherited or learned?
- inherited, because parrots are born talking
- inherited, because its parents say hello
- learned, because someone taught it
10.
Why does a calf look like a cow and not like a horse?
- it learned to look like a cow
- it inherited traits from cow parents
- it ate the same grass as cows

3rd Grade Inherited Traits and Variation worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Inherited traits and variation explain why young organisms resemble their parents but are not exact copies helps third graders connect observations with scientific explanations instead of memorizing isolated facts. Students may label every feature as inherited, even when a behavior was learned or a difference came from the environment. This worksheet uses short evidence-based situations so students must read the setup, identify the pattern, and choose the answer that fits the science idea named in the title. Students sort inherited traits from learned behaviors and injuries, identify variation within a family, and separate traits that come from parents from those shaped by surroundings.

Support versions use familiar examples and direct wording. Standard and challenge versions add closer distractors and require more comparison. Encourage your child to point to the evidence in the prompt before choosing an answer. If the answer does not explain the observation or solve the stated problem, it is probably a distractor. That habit builds careful science reasoning and prepares students for longer investigations.