Decoding Life by Ereny Elrayis
Juliette Stricklan, a 9th grader at Melbourne High School, studies in her 4th-period class while working on a practice test about hereditary genetics. Her teacher, Ms. Willwerth Kendall, uploaded the practice test to help students prepare for the upcoming unit test scheduled for February 20, 2026. Sitting at her desk, Stricklan focuses on reviewing the material she learned during the unit. Practice tests help students check what they understand before the real exam. Stricklan uses the activity to make sure she feels ready and confident for the test.
The genetics unit teaches students how traits are passed down through families. In class, students learn about pedigrees and how hereditary genes affect certain characteristics. Teachers often use practice work so students can review important ideas before taking the unit test. This helps students strengthen their understanding of the topic and identify areas they still need to study. Reviewing the material ahead of time helps many students feel more prepared.
Stricklan explains that tests are given after each unit to measure what students learned. “We took the test on hereditary genetics because our unit was over, and we take a test every time we finish a unit,” Stricklan says. She also shares that her favorite topic from the lesson is learning about the passing of hereditary genes. Understanding how traits are passed from parents to their children makes the lesson more interesting to her. Activities like this help students connect science concepts to real life. I also talked to the teacher and asked her some questions about the test and the subject. I asked her some of the same questions that I asked Stricklan. Willwerth said, “The test was on hereditary genetics. My favorite is teaching hereditary genetics. I just love that topic.”
Caption:
Juliette Stricklan is a 9th grader at Melbourne High School is working on a practice test to help her study for the test that was on February 20, 2026, about hereditary genetics. “We took the test on hereditary genetics because our unit was over, and we take a test every time we finish the unit," she said. photo by Ereny Elrayis