Unit Plan

Discovering DNA: The Recipe for Life

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Discovering DNA: The Recipe for Life unit plan also includes:

A pinch of adenine, a dash of thymine and ta-da, you have life! Well, it's not quite that simple, but through this series of activities and experiments young scientists learn about the structure of DNA and how it contains the recipe for creating new life.

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CCSS: Adaptable
NGSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Include this series of activities in an upper-elementary or middle school life science unit on cells
  • Laminate the base pair templates, using them year after year to model the structure the of DNA
Classroom Considerations
  • Though designed as a longer workshop for teaching about DNA, these activities can be performed independently over the course of a few days or a couple of weeks depending on your class schedule
Pros
  • Resource offers tips that support teachers with performing each activity
  • Includes a page of notes that provides teachers with background knowledge about DNA
  • Provides clear and detailed procedures for completing each activity
  • Printable materials are included that support the different learning activities
Cons
  • None