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Common Core Standards

DNA Replication - Storytelling

Subject:
Grade 12 - Biology (University)
Topic:
DNA Replication - Storytelling (Strand D. Molecular Genetics)
Objective:
Students should be able to:
- Use appropriate terminology to describe DNA replication
- Identify individual roles of enzymes involved in DNA replication
- Explain the need for DNA replication in a real-life scenario
Prep:
This activity will be made relevant to students' lives, as their story must be contextualized into a real-life application in which DNA replication occurs. This can include: healing a wound, healing broken bones, the proliferation of cancer, the process of meiosis, red blood cell creation, a plant growing, a bacterial colony forming, etc.
A key point from the article by Reis & Harrison (2011) is that a lack of a human element in science education can lead to a failure to inspire. DNA replication is an abstract concept (because it happens at the molecular level) and has the potential to lack relevance and meaning to students. "Humanness" is infused into the lesson by having students place this complex process in a way that is relevant to them. The reading is integrated into the activity because it describes very clearly what makes a story good (i.e. "creates empathy with central characters, are conflict-provoking, are short") which will help with defining success criteria (a key component of the lesson). The exemplars in the article will be used to help students create success criteria (and produce their own stories).
Materials:
Chart paper, markers, pens, pencils, props (hats, scissors, glue, string, etc.), handouts of example stories for students:
http://www.sciencerhymes.com.au/your-poems
http://web.mit.edu/endy/www/scraps/comic/AiSB.vol1.pdf