ATLAS was developed to help fulfill the demand for the shift in science pedagogy, hence: Analyzing and Thinking Like a Scientist; ATLAS is “plug and play” material to make it easy to incorporate and address inquiry based learning. Modern science frameworks are designed to emphasize real world science without route memorization.

The DNA inquiry based science journal is an easy way for students to get engaged in content without teacher lead instruction!

How to use DNA ATLAS: First, read the teacher guide so that you know what is expected of the students, as well as any materials you may need. You know your students best; after reviewing the teacher guide you may decide to skip certain activities in the ATLAS journal, and instead save them for teacher instruction.

Secondly, print the ATLAS inquiry journal for your students to begin the inquiry based learning!

Once the ATLAS journal is complete, move on to teacher-lead instruction (this material is not included).

DNA ATLAS:

Students inquire about the "Big Idea": DNA contains genes, which code for proteins. For this topic, a quick reading exercise to familiarize students with central dogma and the vocab is followed by the Build It Exercise where students must build a simple strand of DNA. The class then collaborates to create an alien. There are NO wrong answers in the ATLAS Journals!

MAPS are the Exploratory portion of ATLAS. Included are the following:

1. DNA Model: Students learn about the structure of DNA online.

2. Apply: Students apply what they have learned to their model, and answer some questions to make sure they understand the basic structure and base-pairing rules.

3. Predict: Students predict how related right whales are to other mammals, then study the nucleotide sequences to see how closely related each mammal is to a right whale.

Mutation Extension: A simple, 1 page introduction to mutations. You may use this as part of the ATLAS journal, or you may have your students complete it directly before teacher-lead instruction specific to mutations.

Materials: beads, pipe cleaners or thread for beads, tape, student computers or devices

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