DNA for Dinner
A new 4-H/afterschool biotechnology curriculum for grades 5-8 which has five lessons covering topics from plant diversity to genetic engineering.
Educational Information Cards
Based on educational display on genetics and foods, these “baseball” cards and the displays are available for teachers. Each card is based on a display module and can be used in the classroom and beyond. Available in both English and Spanish.
Gene-ie Juice Bar
This interactive activity, mimicking contemporary juice bars, stands alone or can accompany the Foods display. It teaches that DNA and genes are a natural part of our every day lives. Bar includes materials needed for DNA isolation: blender, reagents, colorful beakers and tubes, and an educational handout.
Juice bar is available on loan. The “How Much DNA Do You Eat” module is also available separately.
Additional DNA extraction information
- An extraction method for strawberry DNA (pdf).
- Isolating DNA from Veggies (Video)
- Juicebar instructional poster (pdf)
Partial funding provided by the American Society of Plant Biologists. Design by B. Alonso, with thanks to: Dr Amanda J. Able (Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre), Ms Belinda Barr (Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics), and Dr Heather Bray (Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre).
Seeds to Grow
Seeds to Grow is an educational game for all ages. It comes with the Seeds to Grow board with plants and corn cobs used as X’s and O’s. Players roll large colorful dice to determine question. Numbers are placed on colorful mats with plants or foods. Players are asked to match the seed with the plant or food on the numbered mat. Question difficulty can vary with ages of players.
Prizes for students are colorful necklaces with pink, yellow, green or black lentil seeds.
Game created by D. Choffnes, X. Jones, P.G. Lemaux, M. Perl, J. Stonaker, V. Wong and B. Alonso.
Dirt to Dinner
Dirt to Dinner is an educational game for all ages. The game includes a colorful board displaying five different foods, miniature clay pots placed in front of each food and boxes that contain the seeds that give rise to the food. Players match the seeds with the food. It is a quick game that reinforces the idea that plants are responsible for our foods. The game can be used in a classroom or in afterschool settings and is available on loan.
The game was modeled after the “Tic Tac Grow” game, which comes with more seed options that make the game more difficult and a tic-tac-toe board.
Contact us to obtain this game.