School-Age
FromBrain Based Early Learning Activities,
Nikki Darling Kuria
What to have
- blunt-edged toothpicks
- mini marshmallows (four or more colors)
- licorice strands
- paper
- markers
- book(s) by Frances R. Balkwill and Mic Rolph
What to do
Now here’s some science you can sink your teeth into. Helping children understand something as complex as DNA can be fun and easy with marshmallows and licorice to demonstrate how the molecules cling together to form a double helix. Using a pincer grip to place the marshmallow on a blunt-edged toothpick builds fine-motor skills. This activity also develops critical thinking skills. Gather the children around you, and ask them if they know how they got their color of hair, eyes, or skin or how tall they are going to be. Each child can create a chart of his or her characteristics (blue eyes, red hair, three feet tall, freckles, shoe size 3—the more, the better). Then to help explain where the characteristics come from and what cells and DNA are, I suggest books by Frances R. Balkwill and Mic Rolph. This duo has written a series of books explaining DNA and cells for children:
- Enjoy Your Cells
- Have a Nice DNA
- DNA Is Here to Stay
- Amazing Schemes within Your Genes
- Cells Are Us
To further illustrate what DNA looks like, go back to the characteristics chart and ask children to choose different colored marshmallows to represent each characteristic. Once they have mapped out the marshmallows to go with the characteristics, demonstrate how to stick the marshmallows onto the toothpicks. Then connect the toothpicks to licorice strands on each end, starting at the bottom and working up to create a ladder. Space the toothpicks about an inch apart. After the two pieces of licorice are connected by the toothpicks, twist the ladder to represent the double helix. Explain that each ladder represents the parts that make each person unique. Have children show each other their double helix to show how everyone’s is different, even for members of the same family. Children can decide if they want to display their double helix or have it for a snack. Either way it’s fun!
Why
To promote perceptual-motor skills, critical thinking. To practice recording and charting physical characteristics. To introduce the concept of DNA.
For more activities check out
Brain Based Early Learning Activities: Connecting Theory and Practice
By Nikki Darling Kuria Copyright 2010 School-Age