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Green Genes: Genetics

UMass Amherst biochemistry professor Dr. Molly Fitzgerald-Hayes, Dr. Frieda Reichsman, Kim Pond of the Massachusetts 4-H Program, and Carrie Chickering-Sears, Director of Community Education in Animal Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have joined together to create a multi-media curriculum, Green Genes: a DNA Curriculum. Designed for the non-scientist adult working in out-of-school settings, this curriculum utilizes the experiential learning model and current research on how today’s youth learn to assist adults in teaching youth science concepts that are fun, informative and thought provoking. The intended audience includes youth workers, 4-H volunteers and educators, parents providing home-school education, and science teachers working primarily with youth between the ages of 10 and 13. The curriculum is comprised of hands-on activities, supplemental Web modules/activities and PowerPoint presentations. The activities can be used in a variety of settings including camp programs. Youth can go home and replicate many of the experiences with their friends and family. The cost and necessary materials are minimal; many of the materials are already at hand.

Green Genes Poster Presentation

Activities

Activity 1 – Alphabet TraitsImage Girl with Shirt "It's in the Genes"

Activity 2 – Build Your Own DNA Model

Activity 3 – Swish & Spit (DNA Extraction)

Activity 4 - Probability

Activity 5 – Conducting Crosses

Activity 6 - Challenge

Activity 7 – Breeding for Survival

Activity 8 – Media and Making Decisions

Discovery Activity 2

Alphabet Traits

Discovery Activity 3

DNA Barnyard Mystery

Resources

PowerPoint Presentations

For further information, please contact:

Kim Pond
4-H Educator, 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Program Manager
7 Midstate Drive, Suite 102
Auburn, MA 01501
Phone: 508-831-1223 Ext. 114
kima@umext.umass.edu