MODULE #1

CLIMBING THE LADDER OF DNA

ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE: 90 minutes

MODULE OBJECTIVES:

CONCEPT(S) LEARNED IN THIS MODULE:
STANDARDS ADDRESSED IN THIS UNIT MODULE (AAAS PROJECT 2061):
TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES UTILIZED IN THIS MODULE:

Module Overview

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Components
Brief Description of Module Activities
Student
Grouping
Materials / Technology
Engagement DNA is like a twisting ladder...(Rensberger, Life Itself, 1996)
Graphic Organizer constructed using Inspiration
Read a portion of an interview with Francis Crick (web-whacked from www.accessexcellence.com)
Class Rope ladder and graphic organizer
Exploration Guided Inquiry- How can we extract DNA from the nucleus of a cell? Students will hypothesize about which ingredient (detergent, meat tenderizer, alcohol) to use and why. Students will outline and implement laboratory protocol.DNA Exploration- Explore the cells of the hand to identify where DNA is located (The Tech Museum). Groups Detergent
Meat Tenderizer
Alcohol
Internet Access
Explanation Class Discussion- Who was able to successfully extract DNA from a cell? What protocol did you use and why? What does the extract DNA look like? What did the DNA from the hand cells look like under an electron microscope? Class  
Extension Building DNA - Students will build a DNA molecule by manipulating nucleotides (GSLC). Students will print out their molecule of DNA along with the answers to the complementary questions. Individual Internet Access
Evaluation DNA Extraction- Students will justify why and when they used ingredients to separate DNA from the nucleus of an organism. Lab protocol will be submitted with extracted DNA.Building DNA- Each group of students will receive a smaller version of a rope ladder. Students will convert rope ladder into a model of DNA by attaching sugars, phosphates, and bases. Groups Rope ladders
Colored paper
Glue

EXPECTED MODULE OUTCOMES:

PERFORMANCE-BASED ASSESSMENT OF MODULE OUTCOMES:


Unit Flow Chart
Unit Description
Modules: 1 2 3 4