Kristin Majda, M.S., M.B.A.
Let's Get Connected!
  • Introduction
  • Education Resources
    • Language Arts >
      • Reading Resources
    • STEM >
      • STEM Enrichment Activities
      • STEM Careers
      • Minorities & Women in STEM
      • Next Generation Science Standards
      • Environmental Education
      • Life Science Resources
    • For Parents
  • NGSS
  • My Students
  • My STEM Tribe (Organizations)
    • Gold Coast Science Network (GCSN)
    • VC STEM Network
    • CSU STEMposium
    • Discovery Center for Science and Technology
    • California Science Teachers Association (CSTA)
    • National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
    • California Department of Education (CDE)
    • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

STEM Lessons & Enrichment Activities


This page lists excellent resources to help teachers and informal educators plan lessons and/or hands-on instruction for students. These are the same resources I use when I visit schools, museums and other youth organizations to teach hands-on STEM lessons. For a list of more informal, self-directed science enrichment activities that students can do on their own outside of school, visit the Self-Guided STEM Enrichment Activities page.

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Life Science

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

DNA Model 
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a type of macromolecule found in cells. It is made up of three types of smaller molecules: sugar molecules (ribose), phosphate molecules, and four types of nitrogenous bases (A, G,T, and C). The nitrogenous bases are lined up in a specific order that is responsible for providing the instructions to cells for how to build proteins, which are the workers and building blocks of cells. Parents pass their DNA down to their kids, which means we inherit the instructions for how our cells function from our parents. The study of how inherited characteristics are passed down from parent to offspring is called genetics. In this activity, you will build a model of a segment of DNA out of candy in order to learn more about the molecular structure of DNA.​
  • Short Instructions for Edible DNA 
  • Lesson Plan for Edible DNA
  • You Tube video demonstration of edible DNA
  • DNALC Animation of DNA Structure (1min 16 sec) 
  • You Tube Video on DNA Structure (1 min 19 sec)
  • DNA and Genes - novice (Ducksters.com) 
  • The Structure of DNA - intermediate (Chem4kids.com)
  • The Structure of DNA - advanced (McGraw Hill animations and quiz)
  • University of Florida Power of 10 Website (zoom in on DNA)
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DNA Extraction 
Strawberries provide an excellent source of DNA because they are octoploidy, they have eight sets of DNA so it is easy to extract a lot of it. DNA extraction is accomplished by using a detergent to break open the membrane of cells to release their DNA, straining out the solids from the juice, and then causing the DNA to precipitate out of the juice using alcohol. 
  • Instructions for DNA Isolation from Strawberries
  • Fun You Tube Video showing DNA extraction (6 min 14 sec)
  • Extract your own DNA (NOVA)
  • University of Florida Power of 10 Website (zoom in on DNA)

DNA Fingerprinting & Gel Electrophoresis 
Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate fragments of DNA according to their size. This is useful because it can be used to determine if a sample of DNA from an unknown source matches a known source. For example, forensic scientists use gel electrophoresis to compare DNA samples from a crime scene to a known samples from victims or suspects. This is called DNA fingerprinting.  
  • K.Majda presentation slides on Google Drive 
  • Gel Electrophoresis Tutorial Animation
  • Gel Electrophoresis Tutorial (University of Utah)
  • Gel Electrophoresis Tutorial (DNALC)
  • DNA Fingerprinting Tutorial (McGraw Hill)
  • DNA Fingerprinting Video (Bozeman Science) (6 min 10 sec) 
  • DNA Fingerprinting Webpage (The Tech Museum)
  • DNA Fingerprinting Virtual Lab (NOVA)
  • How to build a homemade gel electrophoresis system
  • A real forensic science case from NOVA (6 min 29 sec)
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