Biotechnology School Enrichment
Grades 5-6

Biotechnology School Enrichment
Grades 7-8

Each curriculum is designed to provide students with hands-on biotechnology activities that:

• expose students to the scientific and technological issues related to biotechnology,
• stimulate student interest in pursuing careers in science and technology,
• provide students with an experiential learning opportunity that promotes development of appropriate life skills, and
• teach science and technology concepts.

The curriculum for each set of grade levels is designed to take six to eight hours of classroom time to complete. Most of the activities can be done in regular classroom periods, with the longest activity taking 60 minutes. The curriculum may be taught by the classroom teacher with kits checked out from the local county extension office or in conjunction with a specially trained extension staff member.

The curriculum for grades 5 and 6 includes a review of cells and organelles, heredity and genetics, gene mutation, DNA extraction and a DNA fingerprinting mystery. Grades 7 and 8 explore building DNA, mutations, gene splicing, and bioethics. In addition, the older grades complete laboratories in DNA extraction and fingerprinting.

To preview or check-out copies of the curriculum, contact your local ISU county extension office or area education agency. To purchase copies, contact the Extension Distribution Center, 119 Kooser Drive, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011; phone 515-294-5247; or e-mail pubdist@iastate.edu. The publication order number for grades 5-6 curriculum is 4H-955C and is 4H-955D for the grades 7-8 curriculum.