This FutureFit Project is a supplemental project-based lesson covering human biology, cell biology, genetics, problem-solving, and design thinking. It is designed to reinforce core science subject material while also incorporating social-emotional learning and 21st Century skills and concepts.
OVERVIEW:
This FutureFit lesson is designed to supplement a standard 12-15 unit lesson for middle school Life Science by offering a unique project that ties together the core academic concepts with a set of FutureFit social-emotional and 21st Century Skills.
STUDENT/GROUP OUTPUT:
Students will create and participate in a "breakout"-style clue-hunting game about novel cancer oncology therapies designed to help them discover, understand, and apply new ways of thinking to solving common problems.
SUGGESTED SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:
It is suggested that students should have familiarity with the following subject material as background for this lesson:
- A basic understanding of genetics, chromosomes and DNA
- A basic understanding of the growth and development of organisms
- A basic understanding of inheritance and variation of traits
- A basic understanding of adaptation in organisms
SEQUENCE AND PACING
This project-based lesson includes enough material for use in five 45-minutes periods of instruction. If a more focused lesson is appropriate, select the 3-day Short Lesson. The Concept Check version provides activities which reinforce the core math concepts.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES (suggested):
- Internet access
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
These activities support the following NGSS curriculum standards:
- LS1.A Structure and Function
- LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
- LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits
- LS3.B: Variation of Traits
