Curated OER
Genetic Testing: Road Map or Crystal Ball?
After looking at the many aspects of the issues behind genetic testing, learners are exposed to the pros and cons and must take a stand by writing a position paper. They will view the "Who Gets to Know?" video and/or reading case studies...
Curated OER
Genetic Disorder and Genetic Testing
Sixth graders explore the characteristics of a selected genetic disorder and research relevant information to justify an argument either for or against genetic testing. Your class can work in groups to gather specific information in...
Personal Genetics Education Project
Reproductive Genetic Testing: Technology, Access, and Decision Making
Explore the complexities of reproductive genetic testing respectfully in the learning space. Scientists read articles, view a slideshow, and complete a do-now about genetic technologies. A fishbowl activity allows scholars to discuss the...
Beyond Benign
Medical Ethics
Just because we have the ability to determine an organism's traits through genetic testing, should we do it? Middle-school medical experts examine the ethical dilemmas in biotechnology in the 18th and final installment in a series of...
Curated OER
The Probabilities of Problems: A Look at Genetic Inheritance
Discuss an article about families affected by genetic disorders and their decisions about whether or not to evaluate their own genetic information. Investigate four different inherited disorders. Participate in a probability exercise....
Curated OER
Creating Genetic Counselor Pamphlets
The information included here will guide your students to research a particular genetic disorder and then work in groups to create a pamphlet about the disorder from a genetic counselor's point of view.
Personal Genetics Education Project
Genetics, Jobs and Your Rights
Your class will read an overview of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, passed in 2008 and address the question of whether or not genetic information should be used to influence our career paths. In jigsaw style, they then are...
Curated OER
Genetic Testing for Disease Susceptibility
Students explore how testing for particular genetic variations can help people to make decisions in lifestyle and health care choices. They analyze a Web-based case study, participate in class discussion, view video segments and...
Curated OER
Teaching Biology Through Bioinformatics
Wow! A very detailed slideshow covers complex topics of genome research methods. This is advanced and relevant to the highest level of school biology. Excellent resource if you wish to expose your class to scientific methods and...
Curated OER
Whose Genes Are These, Anyway?
Students explore some of the ethical questions raised by genetic testing. They answer the question of whom, if anyone, has rights to knowledge of each person's genetic make-up.
K20 LEARN
More than Skin Deep
From crime to paternity, DNA fingerprinting has revolutionized how the world views inherited traits. Science sleuths investigate the facts about DNA profiling through a variety of activities. The Teacher's Guide includes printable...
Teach Engineering
See the Genes
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein. The sixth installment of a seven-part series teaches young scientists about the importance of being able to communicate scientific research and...
K20 LEARN
You're My 'Karyo'-Type: Karyotype For Chromosomal Disorders
What's your type? Genetically speaking, of course! Immerse your class in the world of karyotypes through an insightful activity from the K20 Center. Scholars take on the role of genetic counselors to determine the karyotype of offspring...
Curated OER
Ethics and Reproductive Issues: The Dilemma of Choice
Students research various websites to answer questions and take part in class discussion regarding Prenatal testing. Students listen to an audio file and complete student worksheet. Students discuss different roles of people and...
Curated OER
Genes: The Building Blocks of Life
Students examine various topics on genetics. Students explore the Internet to gather information on genetic testing, genetically engineered food, forensics, DNA and cloning. They research and determine the best way to fund each of the...
Towson University
Mystery of the Crooked Cell
Can your class solve the Mystery of the Crooked Cell? Junior geneticists collaborate to learn about sickle cell anemia in a fascinating lesson plan. The included materials help them to examine the genetic factors behind the disease...
Kenan Fellows
Unit 3: Genetic Variation
What happens when genes change? Junior genetic investigators examine the effects of mutation in the third unit of a four-part Biotechnology series. Individuals discover the types of mutations through a series of PowerPoints, then partner...
National Academy of Sciences
Genetic Disease: Putting DNA to Work
Scientific knowledge of genetic information has grown quickly over the last decade. An interactive lesson has learners research the role of science and medicine in diagnosing and treating genetic disorders. They consider the job of the...
Curated OER
How Do We Generate a Large Amount of a Specific DNA Sample?
Students investigate the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique that is used to create larger amounts of a gene. They watch and discuss a PowerPoint presentation, explore a website, and write a report listing the materials needed to...
Curated OER
Proteins
Students conduct a variety of experiments to explore protein. In this biology lesson, students solve a mystery by testing for the presence of glucose, protein starch and triglycerides. They explain how DNA transcription and translation...
Curated OER
Using Blood Tests to Identify Babies and Criminals
Young scholars solve a crime by matching a suspect's blood type to physical evidence collected at the crime scene. In this forensic science lesson plan, students identify the different blood types. They explain how blood tests work.
Virginia Department of Education
Passing Traits to Offspring
What makes each one of us unique? Lead your class in this exciting and educational activity as you uncover traits that show how each individual is different from another. Pupils explore facts about DNA technology and predict the...
Virginia Department of Education
Owl Family Natural Selection
How do genetic mutations within a population lead to future variations? Provide your class with the resources to answer this question and more upon completing an activity on natural selection. The entire class participates in a fun role...
Virginia Department of Education
Building a DNA Model
It has been decades since the discovery of DNA. Still, activities such building this DNA model allow blossoming scientists to better understand the components that form this overall structure. During this activity, they will also...