Give students a copy of the book and have them turn to the table of contents.
Ask: What does the table of contents tell you about what you will read? On what page can we read about acquired and inherited traits? Do you think that some of your questions on the KWL chart might be answered in this book? Which ones?  

Build Background
Write the words heredity and genetics on the board. Ask students what they think the words mean.
Give out the KWL chart. Involve students in a discussion about how characteristics are inherited. Ask them to brainstorm some inherited features. Have students record what they know about heredity in the first column of the KWL chart. Then have them write in the second column some things they would like to learn about heredity. 

Skim and Scan
Have students skim the book, looking at the photos and captions.
Have students look at the bold-faced words in the text and talk about the meanings of the words. Explain to students that they often can use the context to figure out the meaning of a word. Point out the glossary at the end of the book. Have students check the meanings of the words heredity and genetics in the glossary, so they can confirm their understanding of the words.