Prepare for lesson:
- Review What is DNA? Facilitator Guide
- Print page 4 of Delicious DNA handout for small groups (included in guide)
- Supplies for small groups:
- 1 paper towel
- 2 licorice vines
- 20 toothpicks
- 20 pieces of gummy candy (4 different colors)
During the lesson:
- Ask youth to think about what they know about DNA by (10 min):
- What it looks like (draw eyes on board)
- What it does (draw movie clapper)
- Why we care? (draw hand writing)
- In small groups, youth will build their own DNA using supplies (~20 min).
- Share rules they should follow (from guide), allowing youth to decide on how they use supplies.
- Build a 3-D model of DNA
- Must use A, C, T and G nitrogen bases
- A always pairs with T, C always pairs with G
- Share handout (page 4) that they’ll use as a guide
- Have groups share their final structures (~10 min)
- Go back to intro discussion on what they know about DNA. Is there anything they’d change? (~10 min)