Project Details

Organisation:	Science Center, Singapore, DNA Lab
Mentor:	Ms Florence Francis, Syn Yin
Members:	Xiwen, Calvin, Shi Ling
Project Title:	DNA Workshop for lower primary students

A. Brief Description of Project

1. To come up and plan activities regarding the topic of DNA and genes for targeted for lower primary students between ages 8 to 9 in the form of a 2 day camp (2-3hrs each day).

B. Results

Summary of what we did

• Came up with activities for the lower primary students

1. THE MISSING MARY MYSTERY

Aim:
To educate the kids that genes and traits come from the nucleus.
To educate the kids that the gene that the DNA codes for (in the nucleus), determines our features.


2. THE CELL STRUCTURE

Aim:
To educate the kids on the structure of the cell, and from there, end of with the fact that the nucleus contains the DNA.

3. THE MAKING OF THE DNA DOUBLE HELIX STRUCTURE

Aim:
To educate the students on the structure of DNA and the base pairing.
a) Group challenge: Making of the DNA double helix model
b) Individual Exercise: Making of the DNA double helix keychain (take-away)

4. DNA EXTRACTION FROM A STRAWBERRY

Aim:
Allow the students to extract the DNA of strawberries on their own and to allow them to see the form of DNA.
Allow them to handle the materials instead of handling microscopes to view the cell structure (age problem).

• Facilitated in a number of their workshops available - helping students (from various primary & secondary schools) doing wet-lab activities

• General research on DNA

• Carry out wet-lab activities - such as the DNA extraction of a strawberry, banana and apple, Gel-electrophoresis, PTC Test

C. Reflection

Three content knowledge/skills that we have learnt

1. We have learnt more about virus, the difference between virus and bacteria etc through the presentation of the other group – the virus workshop group.

2. We had a chance to revise through our DNA knowledge that we had touched on during TA1, which is a good thing as we have already forgotten the work.

3. We have learnt on different science topics such as DNA, forensics, microbes etc as we often helped out in a variety of classes.


Two interesting aspects about our learning

1. We did the PTC test because the other group was doing it for their virus workshop. It is actually a test whereby we will conduct gel electrophoresis to see if the restriction enzyme cuts the DNA and if you have the gene to taste bitter food.

2. We got to work with people from external organisations, and this is very meaning as we are preparing for our work life in the future and we got a taste of how working is like.

One take-away for life

1. We have learnt not to give up even though our initial ideas were constantly rejected, and that when we needed to consistently think of ideas to simplify the tough keywords of DNA for the lower primary students. Moreover, we had to also come up with original ideas to make the lessons or activities to be as engaging as possible, in order to make the students pay attention. We have learnt how people work together at their jobs, for example, brainstorming, trouble shooting as well as coming out with feasible solutions.

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