Modeling DNA Replication

A few years ago, I decided that I really wanted to focus on ensuring that my students understood the process of DNA replication. While diagrams and videos were available online, I wanted the students to actually interact with the process. I have used this modeling activity with my middle school students for several years with great success, and I hope your students enjoy it too.

Here, you see students working together to apply the base pair rule as they model DNA replication.

After working with the model in a small group, students put what they have learned into their notes, in words and pictures.

I created these manipulatives out of simple craft foam so they last from year to year. Be sure to create helicase and DNA polymerase as well.

The models help students understand that base pair rule and the steps of DNA replication, and can even be extended to teach RNA and transcription. 

Genetic Engineering - Where do YOU draw the line?

As preteens, my Middle School students are working hard to establish their identities. Part of this identity development includes understanding the issues they will soon face as adults, and guiding them to informed opinions. To this end, I build a lot of discussion about genetic engineering into my unit on DNA and heredity.

In this activity, students are given a chance to debate and discuss different real uses of genetic technology, working toward an understanding of where THEY draw the line. It is important to emphasize with students that their opinion may differ from the person next to them, and that that is okay. We model how to disagree respectfully and I post sentence starters on the front board that students can refer to as needed during the discussions.

During the activity, each group of students receives 12 cards, each explaining a different real life example of genetic engineering. Students are then tasked with discussing and ranking the cards, on a scale from Never Okay to Always Okay.

For example, one card reads "Dog breeders bred pugs to have short muzzles because owners think this trait is cute. This makes it harder for pugs to breath."

As they discuss, students are analyzing and grappling with the pros and cons of different uses of genetic technology. They begin to realize what they believe is okay and what they believe is not okay. They are becoming informed decision makers.

Feel free to check out the full assignment on my Teachers Pay Teacher page.