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To expose students from elementary to high school in Collier County to the structure and abstract processes associated with DNA replication and transcription through concrete hands-on manipulatives created by MIT .

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Sharing DNA: A Collaboration From High School to Elementary

School:
Gulf Coast High 
Subject:
Science 
Teacher:
Heather Thornton 
Students Impacted:
1000 
Grade:
9-12 
Date:
August 6, 2018

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Suncoast Credit Union - $1,400.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 860

Approximately 50 elementary school students and 810 high school Biology and Integrated Science students were impacted by the MIT DNA Kits. 

The thirteen DNA/RNA kits from MIT have changed the way I teach molecular genetics.  Students used the hands-on manipulatives to create a double stranded DNA molecule that could actually wind into a helix, then they replicated the DNA, in another lesson they transcribed the DNA to RNA and then translated it into protein.  These concepts were much easier to understand and visualize using the “lego-like” parts. Making messenger RNA using the code for DNA was also a hands-on experience.  Students were able to use the codon chart provided in the kit to make protein from the mRNA strand.  All of this connects to the Genetics curriculum in Biology linking DNA to characteristics in humans.  The students also determined the effects of mutations in DNA on the proteins made in translation.  Each and every student knowledge of Molecular Genetics at different levels was forever impacted by the hands-on manipulatives. 

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The high school students loved teaching about DNA!

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Gaby, an 11th grade Genetics student presented a f

 

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Heather Thornton shared a DNA replication lesson w

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Bethsie shares her knowledge of DNA with eager stu

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

To expose students from elementary to high school in Collier County to the structure and abstract processes associated with DNA replication and transcription through concrete hands-on manipulatives created by MIT . 

 

What will be done with my students

My Biology and Genetics students will learn the structure of DNA, how it replicates and how the process of transcription of messenger RNA is created from DNA in cells using hands-on manipulative and activities created by MIT. My students will then travel to other Biology classes to share what they learned by guiding students through hands-on DNA manipulation. My Genetics students that are also Dual Enrollment Education students will also have the opportunity to share the basics of DNA structure to elementary students at Laurel Oak Elementary. The applications of these activities have a large scope and can be used by a variety of levels, from elementary and middle school DNA structure and replication to advanced topics such as repairing damage to DNA by free radicals and creating the different types of gene mutations that can occur in DNA.
 

 

Benefits to my students

One of Gulf Coast High School’s Engineering instructors attended a workshop at MIT last summer and came back expressing to the Biology department the power of these hands-on manipulatives. Students will learn what molecules like DNA, mRNA and tRNA do in addition to what textbooks demonstrate, which is what the molecules look like. Replication, Transcription and Translation of DNA has been a challenging abstract concept to teach. Initially, it was taught using a series of diagrams, then animations and later through molecular visualizations by video. Now, instead of watching the process happen, students will construct the molecules with building blocks and manipulate them as each process occurs.  

 

Budget Narrative

Kit Flyer can be found at:
https://edgerton.mit.edu/sites/default/files/media/MITECDNAflyer10-31-16.pdf
I am applying for the DNA/RNA set and the tRNA set 

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 DNA/RNA Classroom Set $1,200.00
2 tRNA Classroom Set $200.00
  Total: $1,400.00

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union