Fill the box with at least four pairs of socks. Pairs should not be identical to any other pairs; however, some should be similar.
Select two pairs of socks that are similar, but not identical, such as white socks with red stripes and white socks with blue stripes.
Pull one sock from each of the similar pairs out of the box and explain they are a homologous pair. Compare it to a very different sock, such as a long white sport sock versus a dark ankle sock, to show an example of a nonhomologous pair. Identify the slight differences in the homologous pair as the sock's unique genes.
Demonstrate interphase by pairing the socks together to show that the cell starts as a single unit, such as an egg.
Hold up two similar socks, and pair them together. Hold each pair in a separate hand and explain that a tetrad is formed from four chromatin, which unite in two pairs during prophase I.
Align the socks again to demonstrate that tetrads align on the metaphase plate during metaphase I. Pull all the socks apart and add four socks to each hand. Explain that in the next stage of meiosis, referred to as anaphase I, the chromosomes replicate, divide and move to opposite cell poles.
Scrunch the socks together to show that chromosomes move closer to their respective poles during telophase I until the cell splits into two daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the original cell.