Genetics Unraveled: Unlocking Health's Secrets!

High School Grade

Project
2 weeks

Genetics Unraveled: Unlocking Health's Secrets!

Susan Ferrigno

Purpose

Students will delve into the fascinating world of genetics to uncover how it shapes our understanding of health challenges and solutions. Through hands-on activities like creating Punnett squares and engaging in role-playing debates, students will explore genetic principles and their applications. This project aims to connect students with real-world health contexts, culminating in a visit to Northwell Health, where they can see genetics in action. By reflecting on their learning in a 'Genetics and Me' journal, students will consider the impact of genetics on personal and community health, fostering a deeper awareness and appreciation for this vital field.

Learning goals

Students will investigate the role of genetics in addressing health challenges by exploring concepts such as incomplete dominance, dihybrid crosses, and Mendelian genetics. Through hands-on activities like creating Punnett squares and participating in role-playing debates, students will develop a deeper understanding of genetic variation and inheritance. By engaging with community partners like Northwell Health, students will connect their learning to real-world applications and reflect on the impact of genetics on personal and community health through their 'Genetics and Me' journal entries.

Standards

NGSS - HS-LS3-1: Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.
NGSS - HS-LS3-2: Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from new genetic combinations through meiosis, viable errors occurring during replication, and mutations caused by environmental factors.
NGSS - HS-LS3-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a digital presentation that showcases their understanding of genetics through the lens of real-world health challenges. This presentation will include their Punnett square predictions, insights from the role-playing debate, and reflections from their 'Genetics and Me' journal entries. Additionally, students will develop informational brochures for community health awareness, integrating their genetic knowledge and insights gained from the Northwell Health visit. These products will be shared with peers and community partners to highlight the practical applications of genetics in addressing health issues.

Launch

Kick off the project with an interactive visit from Northwell Health professionals, who will present real-world health challenges linked to genetics. Students will engage in a hands-on activity to analyze genetic data related to a common health issue, setting the stage for exploring how genetics can influence health outcomes. This launch will spark curiosity and provide context for the essential question, while also connecting students with community partners.

Exhibition

Students will showcase their learning through a Genetics Fair, where they present their Punnett square analyses and role-play debates to peers, teachers, and community members, including representatives from Northwell Health. Each student will also share their 'Genetics and Me' journal entry, offering personal insights into how genetics impacts health. This exhibition will serve as an interactive platform for students to engage with real-world health challenges and demonstrate their understanding of genetic principles.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Day 1: Introduce the project with a visit from Northwell Health professionals who present real-world health challenges linked to genetics. Engage students in a hands-on activity analyzing genetic data related to a common health issue.	Day 2: Begin exploration of Mendelian genetics. Facilitate a role-playing debate where students assume the roles of historical figures in genetics, discussing Mendelian principles and their real-world applications.	Day 3: Introduce incomplete dominance and codominance through interactive simulations. Students use these concepts to predict genetic traits in a hypothetical plant species.	Day 4: Teach principles of dihybrid crosses. Organize a group activity where students create Punnett squares to predict genetic traits, using scenarios such as predicting traits in animals.	Day 5: Students begin their 'Genetics and Me' journal entry, reflecting on how their study of genetics influences their thoughts on personal and community health issues.
Deliverables	1. Completed Punnett squares for dihybrid crosses based on the group activity. 2. Role-play debate summary, highlighting key insights and learnings from historical genetics figures. 3. 'Genetics and Me' journal entry reflecting on personal and community health issues.
Preparation	1. Coordinate with Northwell Health to arrange the initial project launch visit. 2. Prepare materials and resources for the Mendelian genetics role-playing debate, including character briefs and debate topics. 3. Develop interactive simulations for teaching incomplete dominance and codominance concepts. 4. Design and print scenarios for the dihybrid cross Punnett square activity. 5. Set up a digital platform or physical journals for students to begin their 'Genetics and Me' reflections.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Day 6: Continue exploring genetic variation by diving into meiosis. Conduct a hands-on lab activity where students model the stages of meiosis using materials like beads or pipe cleaners to visualize genetic variation.	Day 7: Engage students in a collaborative project where they research and create a digital presentation on how genetic variations can address specific health challenges. Students will work in groups to investigate genetic conditions, mutations, and their implications on health, integrating their findings into a cohesive presentation.	Day 8: Facilitate a workshop on the ethical implications of genetic research in health. Students participate in group discussions and role-playing scenarios to explore ethical considerations and societal impacts of genetic technologies.	Day 9: Host a peer review session where students present their digital presentations to classmates for feedback. Encourage constructive critique and suggest improvements for the final presentation.	Day 10: Culminate the project with the Genetics Fair exhibition. Students present their final digital presentations, Punnett square analyses, and 'Genetics and Me' journal entries to peers, teachers, and community partners, including Northwell Health representatives.
Deliverables	1. Completed model of meiosis stages with explanations of genetic variation. 2. Group digital presentation addressing a specific health challenge through genetics. 3. Reflection on ethical considerations of genetic research from the workshop. 4. Final 'Genetics and Me' journal entry reflecting on the entire project experience.
Preparation	1. Gather and prepare materials for the meiosis modeling activity, including beads or pipe cleaners. 2. Provide guidelines and resources for the digital presentation project, including access to research materials and presentation tools. 3. Develop scenarios and discussion prompts for the ethics workshop on genetic research. 4. Organize logistics for the Genetics Fair exhibition, ensuring space setup, tech requirements, and communicating with Northwell Health representatives. 5. Review and provide feedback on student presentations during the peer review session.