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Nano Lessons

A repository of lessons are available for instructors that wish to incorporate cutting-edge nanoscience into their STEM curricula. Each NanoLesson contains a descriptive summary, sample lesson pages, related simulations and seminars. These Nano Lessons are targeted for the 7-12 grade classroom. All materials on the NanoEd Resource Portal are peer-managed and covered by a creative-commons attribution, non-commercial share-alike type licensing.

Please contact us if you are interested in posting your Nano Lessons.

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DNA and Models

 

ABSTRACT:

The lesson includes concepts related to small scale and self-assembly.

The current lesson is focused on the design of single-strand DNA to detect viruses. This topic appears well-suited for the purpose, since middle-school students are familiar with viruses and understand the need to detect them. The design approach was chosen as a vehicle for instruction-as opposed to didactic presentation or procedural training-with the consideration that the active construction of meaning involving first-hand experience with representations would support learning about these concepts.

The learning goals of the current study include (a) that a single strand of DNA can catch another (viral) single strand, (b) that each strand is composed of nucleotides containing one of four bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), or Guanine (G), (c) that these nucleotides will selectively attract and bond with other nucleotides (base-pairings: A with T, C with G), and (d) that this process is used to 'detect' viruses and happens at nanoscale.

 

EVALUATION METHODS:

Pre and post tests, in class materials and activities.

 

Lessson Plan:

Presentations:

Additional Materials:

 

 

 

 

Authors:
Brenda A López Silva,
Marco Bernasconi,
John Bell,
Raedy Ping,
Tom Moher

Institutions:
University of Illinois at Chicago, IL USA

Grade level:
6-9

Subject:
Chemistry

Time Allocation:
Six days of an hour to 90 minutes each, including two for pre-post assessment.

For Classroom:
The content covers basic concepts that can be discussed more in depth, some of the suggested activities can be modified based on teacher's preference. The simulation settings require a more advance level of expertise on the teachers end, but the simulation can be run on a desktop environment instead of the downward ceiling projection.