Sort examples of traits and behaviors into inherited (present from birth, passed from parents) versus learned (developed through practice, environment, or experience).
Some things about a living thing are inherited, passed down at birth from its parents, like eye color or the natural color of a dog's fur. Other things are learned, picked up over time by watching, practicing, or experiencing the world, like speaking a particular language, riding a bike, or a dog learning to sit on command.
Both inherited traits and learned behaviors matter, but they come from very different places: inherited traits are already set before birth, while learned behaviors develop afterward, through experience.
Mastery looks like: They correctly sort new examples into inherited versus learned traits and can explain their reasoning.
Common stumbles: Assuming all animal behaviors are automatically inherited instincts, or automatically learned skills, without considering the specific example.