LIFE: From Diversity to DNA is a project that includes four middle school life science units designed by Jan Schuettpelz, Tracy Voreis, and Pat Shane. The project has been presented at the North Carolina Science Teachers’ Association Conference and the National Science Teachers’ Association Conference. The project units were designed with a threefold emphasis: incorporating literacy into science, providing real world applications for science knowledge, and using inquiry investigations and projects. Projects and investigations are assessed through rubrics designed for the units.

• Learning Outcomes
• Lessons
• Assessment
• Resources
• About the Authors

Learning Outcomes

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Lessons

CELL LESSONS

The cell unit teaches the students basic cellular theory. Before the students begin learning about the cell however, they are taken through a series of lessons to help them understand perspective. How small is microscopic? We then have the students engage in several projects and labs to understand the organelles of the cell and cellular processes. Please see the cell overview for more description on each of the individual lessons.

Title	ISBN/ Order #	Vendor	Unit(s)	Type of Book/Used for
Zoom	140557741	any bookseller	Cell	Whole class picture book
ReZoom	014055694X	any bookseller	Cell	Optional whole class picture book
Enjoy Your Cells	AJS65982	any bookseller	Cell	Trade book/ Learning center/ read aloud/ reference
Cells by Silverstein	076132254X	any bookseller	Cell	Trade book/ Learning center/reference
What’s Smaller than a Pigmy Shrew?	807588385	any bookseller	Cell	Trade book/ Whole class read aloud
National Geographic’s Cells at Work Theme Set (4 titles)	WE42099	http://www.ngschoolpub .org/c/@f.SLFg7zjwg0k /Pages/TS.web	Cell/ Human Body	Trade book/ Learning center/ reference
National Geographic’s Reading Expeditions Looking At Cells (single title)	WE41262	http://www.ngschoolpub .org/c/@f.SLFg7zjwg0k /Pages/RE.web	Cell	Trade book/ Learning center/ reference
How Big	761315705	used/rare booksellers	Cell	Trade book/ Whole class read aloud
How Tall, How Short, How Far Away	823416321	any bookseller	Cell	Trade book/ Whole class read aloud
Cells are Us	0876146361	any bookseller	Cell, human body, genetics	Trade book/ Learning center/reference
Cell Wars	087614637X	any bookseller	Cell, human body	Trade book/ Reference
Animals Multicelled Life (Cells and Life Series)	158810933X	any bookseller	Cell, human body	Trade book/ Reference
World of the Cell: Life on a Small Scale (Cells and Life Series)	1588109380	any bookseller	Cell	Trade book/ Reference
The Diversity of Life: From Singe Cells to Multicellular Organisms (Cells and Life Series)	1588109356	any bookseller	Cell, Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Plants & Fungi: Multicelled Life (Cells and Life Series)	1588109372	any bookseller	Cell	Trade book/ Reference
Stem Cells (Science on the Edge)	1567117872	Any bookseller	Cells, Human Body, Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
Extremely Weird Micro Monsters	156261293X	Any bookseller	Cells, Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Hidden Worlds: Looking Through a Scientist’s Microscope	0618354050	Any bookseller	Cells, Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Mini Beasts: The Microscopic World of Tiny Creatures	0789488477	Any bookseller	Cells, Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Cells	0737706473	Any bookseller	Cells	Trade book/ Reference
Cells	078916227X	Any bookseller	Cells	Trade book/ Reference

DISEASE

The Microbes unit begins very broadly focusing on the spread of disease. The unit then narrows its focus to specifically examine protists, bacteria, and viruses individually. It can be taught in its entirety or broken down into individual lessons. Please see the Disease overview for more description about each lesson.

Title	ISBN/Order #	Vendor	Unit(s)	Type of Book/Used for
The Diversity of Life: From Singe Cells to Multicellular Organisms (Cells and Life Series)	1588109356	any bookseller	Cell, Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Human Body Systems Series by Silverstein	ER-45-6550	set from Carolina Biological/ individual titles from booksellers	Human body/ Microbes	Trade book/ Reference (7 titles from Carolina; 8 th book available from other booksellers)
Achoo… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Germs	1553374517	Any bookseller	Human body/ microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Germ Zappers	0879695986	Any bookseller	Cells/ Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Germs Make Me Sick	0064451542	Any bookseller	Human Body/ Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
The Magic School Bus Inside Ralphie	0590400258	Any bookseller	Human Body, Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
The Magic School Bus The Giant Germ	0439204208	Any bookseller	Microbes/ Human Body	Short chapter novel/ literature circles/ enrichment/ extra credit
Guide to Microlife	0531111946	Any bookseller	Microbes	Reference
The Germ Patrol	0963900285	Any bookseller	Microbes/ Human Body	Whole class read aloud
Chickenpox	0531117820	Any bookseller	Microbes / Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Common Colds	0613310853	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Epilepsy	0736802789	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Hookworm	0737717815	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Lice	073771784X	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Ticks	0737717823	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Chiggers	0737717785	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Secret Worlds minibeasts	0789488477	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Hidden Worlds Looking Trough a Scientist’s Microscope	0618354050	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Mad Cow Disease	082393487x	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Polio Epidemic	0766015556		Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
When Plague Strikes	0064461955	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Cholera	0791073033	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Epidemic	1556845463	Any bookseller	Microbes Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
The Protists& Fungi Files	1587381338	Only available on line with CD (www.discovery school.com) or at science teacher conferences	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
The Greatest Killer Smallpox in History	0226351688	Any bookseller	Microbes	Nonfiction novel – dense reading great infromation
The Ebola Virus	0737717807	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Ebola Virus	0766015955	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Mononucleosis	073680284	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Buzzwords in Microbiology	1878576089	Any bookseller	Microbes	Reference
Skin Disorder	0791059839	Any bookseller	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Micro Monsters	156261293x	Any bookseller	Microbes/ cells	Trade book/ Reference
National Geographic’s Reading Expeditions Finding the First Vaccine	WE41433	http://www.ngschool pub.org/c/@f.SLFg7 zjwg0k/Pages/RE.web	Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
The Hot Zone	0385479565	Any bookseller	Microbes	Nonfiction- Literacy Circles
Fever 1793	0689848919	Any bookseller	Microbes	Historical Fiction Literacy Circles
A Young Man’s Journey with AIDS	0531158926	Any bookseller	Microbes	Nonfiction Literacy Circles
An American Plague	0395776082	Any bookseller	Microbes	Nonficiton Literacy Circles

GENETICS LESSONS

In this unit, students learn basic genetics concepts, discuss genetic engineering controversies, and explore the science of science fiction literature and movies. Students explore how chromosomes are passed from parents to children by doing a role play. They use FACES software to explore the complexity of human genetics. They watch movie clips from Gattaca and Multiplicity. As an interdisciplinary project, students participate in literature circle discussions around the books House of the Scorpion, Dr. Franklin’s Island, The Last Book in the Universe, and Ender’s Game. Students also grow Wisconsin Fastplants, explore the most effective ways of pollinating their plants, and selectively breed their plants for certain traits. Finally, they design a project during which they collect data and research about any human trait to try to determine whether or not it is a genetic trait.

Title	ISBN/Order #	Vendor	Unit(s)	Type of Book/Used for
Cells are Us	0876146361	any bookseller	Cell, human body, genetics	Trade book/ Learning center/reference
Cell Division and Genetics (Cells and Life Series)	1588109348	any bookseller	Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
DNA and Genetic Engineering (Cells and Life Series)	1588109364	any bookseller	Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
Stem Cells (Science on the Edge)	1567117872	Any bookseller	Cells, Human Body, Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
Double Talking Helix Blues	0879694319	Any bookseller	Genetics	Illustrated song lyrics and cassette; whole class sing-along
Amazing Schemes within Your Genes	0876146353	Any bookseller	Genetics	Trade book/ reference
Baa… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Genes and Cloning	1550748866	Any bookseller	Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
Have a Nice DNA	0879696109	Any bookseller	Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
Gene Machines	0879696117	Any bookseller	Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
DNA is Here to Stay	0876146388	Any bookseller	Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
House of the Scorpion	0689852231 (paperback) 1402541732 (unabridged cassette) 1402545568 (unabridged CD- library edition)	Any bookseller, CD only available from http://www.recorded books.com	Genetics	Science fiction novel/ interdisciplinary unit/ literature circles/ enrichment/ extra credit
Dr. Franklin’s Island	0440237815 (paperback) 0754064018 (unabridged cassette)	Any bookseller	Genetics	Science fiction novel/ interdisciplinary unit/ literature circles/ enrichment/ extra credit
The Last Book in the Universe	0439087597 (paperback) 0807288438 (unabridged cassette)	Any bookseller	Genetics	Science fiction novel/ interdisciplinary unit/ literature circles/ enrichment/ extra credit
National Geographic’s Reading Expeditions You and Your Genes (single title)	WE41260	http://www.ngschoolpub. org/c/@f.SLFg7zjwg0k/ Pages/RE.web	Genetics	Trade book/ reference
National Geographic’s Reading Expeditions Uncovering the Structure of DNA (single title)	WE41437	http://www.ngschoolpub. org/c/@f.SLFg7zjwg0k/ Pages/RE.web	Genetics	Trade book/ reference

HUMAN BODY LESSONS

This unit progresses from teacher-led activities that explore the nervous system to student-led projects and presentations that teach the class about the other body systems. Students act as neurons in a role play demonstrating how a message travels through the nervous system. They explore the different types of memory and design investigations to explore human memory and responses to stimuli. They research and create interactive group presentations to teach the class about a body system.

Title	ISBN/Order #	Vendor	Unit(s)	Type of Book/Used for
National Geographic’s Cells at Work Theme Set (4 titles)	WE42099	http://www.ngschool pub.org/c/@f.SLFg7 zjwg0k/Pages/TS.web	Cell/ Human Body	Trade book/ Learning center/ reference
Cells are Us	0876146361	any bookseller	Cell, human body, genetics	Trade book/ Learning center/reference
Cell Wars	087614637X	any bookseller	Cell, human body	Trade book/ Reference
Animals Multicelled Life (Cells and Life Series)	158810933X	any bookseller	Cell, human body	Trade book/ Reference
Bones: Our Skeletal System	O-688-17721-2	any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Eyes and Ears:	O-688-15303-8	any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Muscles: Our Muscular System	0-688-17720-4	any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
The Heart	0-688-17059-5	any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
The Brain	0-688-17060-9	any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Guts: Our Digestive System	0060546514	any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Fantastic Voyage	0553275720	any bookseller	Human body	Novel/ Literature circles/ Enrichment/ Extra credit
Human Body Systems Series by Silverstein	ER-45-6550	set from Carolina Biological/ individual titles from booksellers	Human body/ Microbes	Trade book/ Reference (7 titles from Carolina; 8 th book available from other booksellers)
Brainbox	1855780968	used/ rare bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
National Geographic’s Reading Expeditions Human Body Series (5 titles?)	WE42061	http://www.ngschool pub.org/c/@f.SLFg7 zjwg0k/Pages/RE.web	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Germ Zappers	0879695986	Any bookseller	Cells/ Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Grossology and You	0-843177-36-5	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Grossology	0-843149-14-0	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Odd Body	0740741888	Any bookseller	Human Body	Reference
Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, and Yawn	0064451933	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Germs Make Me Sick	0064451542	Any bookseller	Human Body/ Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
A Drop of Blood	006009110X	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Hear Your Heart	0064451399	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Skeleton Inside You	0064450872	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Your Skin and Mine	006445102X	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
What Happens to a Hamburger	0064451836	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Digestive System: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403404518	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Hormones: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403432996	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Reproductive System: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403404550	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Spinal Cord and Nerves: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403433011	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Brain: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403432961	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Heart and Blood: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403404526	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Lungs: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403404542	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Muscles: Injury, Illness, and Health	1403433003	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Bones: Injury, Illness, and Health	140340450X	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Yikes! Your Body Up Close	689815204	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Why don’t Haircuts Hurt?	0439085691	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Great Brain Book	0439458951	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body	0590414275	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses	0590446983	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Magic School Bus Inside Ralphie	0590400258	Any bookseller	Human Body, Microbes	Trade book/ Reference
The Magic School Bus The Search for the Missing Bones	0439107997	Any bookseller	Human Body	Short chapter novel/ literature circles/ enrichment/ extra credit
The Magic School Bus The Giant Germ	0439204208	Any bookseller	Microbes/ Human Body	Short chapter novel/ literature circles/ enrichment/ extra credit
Stem Cells (Science on the Edge)	1567117872	Any bookseller	Cells, Human Body, Genetics	Trade book/ Reference
Hmm… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Memory	1550745972	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Zzz… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Sleep	1550749463	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Achoo… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Germs	1553374517	Any bookseller	Human body/ microbes	Trade book/ Reference
Burp… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Eating	1550746014	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Aha… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Intelligence	1553375696	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Wow… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about the Five Senses	1553376307	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Brain Surgery for Beginners	0590031872	Used/ rare bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
Poop: A Natural History of the Unmentionaable	0763624373	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
From Head to Toe: The Amazing Human Body and How it Works	0823416992	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
The Immune System	0737720778	Any bookseller	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
Reading Essentials in Science: Life Science/Human Body		http://www. perfection learning.com	Human Body	Trade book/ Reference
The Bone Detectives	0316829617	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference
How Your Body Works	O746023006	Any bookseller	Human body	Trade book/ Reference

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Assessment

LIFE Units

The project focuses on literacy through science notebooks, film clips, creative writing assignments, foldables, trade books, picture books, science fiction, and novels. In the units, student scientists use science notebooks to record their investigations, just as real scientists do. Literature is used as a reference tool for projects and investigations, a lesson “hook” during whole class read-alouds, and a discussion generator during literature circle groups.

The units show students how the science they learn is relevant to their lives. The students are exposed to bioethical issues related to each unit, and they have opportunities to express their own informed opinions about the issues through Paideia Seminars and writing assignments. From investigating genetic traits or diseases that affect their lives to reflecting on how their science knowledge can help them make choices that improve their personal health, application of content is a valuable part of each unit.

Students are encouraged to become lifelong seekers of knowledge through the project’s emphasis on inquiry. Students design questions to investigate and to research, and they solve medical and forensic mysteries. They create interactive presentations, giant models, and documentaries to teach their classmates and visiting students what they have learned.

The project includes four units: human body systems, genetics, cells, and microbes and disease designed to meet North Carolina Standard Course of Study Objectives for seventh and eighth grades. Each lesson plan includes how the lesson is linked to both state and national standards. The units cover the following content from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study Competency Goals for Science:

• 7th grade Competency Goal 4: The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the complementary nature of the human body system.
• 7th Grade Competency Goal 5: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of heredity and genetics.
• 8th Grade Competency Goal 6: The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of cell theory.
• 8th Grade Competency Goal 7: The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of microbiology.

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Resources

You may also find additional resource information included with each lesson.

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About the Authors

These authors below have contributed significantly to the creation of these units and activities for all teachers to employ.

Below are introductions and achievements as well as a way to contact them.

Tracy Voreis
Tracy Voreis is a National Board Certified Teacher who has been teaching seventh grade science at Durham School of the Arts (DSA) in Durham, North Carolina since 2000. She is certified to teach middle grades science and language arts. Teaching middle school students at a Breakthrough program called Summerbridge Fort Worth during the summers of 1996-1998 inspired her to become a middle school science teacher. As a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she had the opportunity to attend the North Carolina Outward Bound School, to work at Summerbridge Fort Worth, and to observe in Japanese schools for five weeks as a part of the scholarship’s summer experiences. After graduating from UNC with a B.A. in Education in 1999, she spent one year working with her former summer students at Summerbridge Fort Worth full-time as the Dean of Faculty and Alumni Coordinator. Since beginning her teaching career, she has earned over $18,000 in grants including grants from the Durham Public Education Network, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Toshiba America Foundation, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, and North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. She was selected as DSA’s Teacher of the Year in 2001-2002, and she was named a Kenan Fellow in 2003. She was a co-instructor for a university life science course through UNC for Durham Public School teachers in 2005 as part of a subcontract from the State Department of Education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband who is a physics teacher at DSA, playing with her golden retriever puppy, mentoring two girls through the Big Sib program, coaching and playing softball, and skiing.

Contact: tvoreis@gmail.com

Jan Schuettpelz
Jan Schuettpelz has been teaching seventh grade science at Durham School of the Arts in Durham, North Carolina since 2002. Prior to that she taught elementary school in Durham and in Milwaukee, WI. She is certified to teach 1st through 8th grades. Her undergraduate degree is in urban elementary education and was earned at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jan recently earned her master’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in middle grades science teaching. In 2001 she developed inquiry curriculum kits for fourth grade teachers. At Durham School of the Arts, Jan has coached the Science Olympiad team since 2003, run the Environmental Club since 2002, and taught a Math and Science enrichment class since 2002. Since her time in North Carolina, Jan has earned over $15,000 in grants including Toyota Tapestry for science in literacy, grants from the Durham Public Education Network, and North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. She was selected as DSA’s Teacher of the Year in 2003-2004, and was named a Kenan Fellow in 2003. She was a co-instructor for a university life science course through UNC for Durham Public School teachers in 2005 as part of a subcontract from the State Department of Education. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing and swimming with her master’s swim team.

Contact: jschuettpelz@me.com

Dr. Pat Shane
Dr. Pat Shane is the Associate Director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) and a Clinical Associate Professor of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a past president of the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA) and the North Carolina Science Leadership Association (NCSLA), and she continues to be very active in those organizations as well as the National Science Teachers’ Association (NSTA) and North Carolina Science Teachers’ Association (NCSTA). She is a GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) site director. In addition to working with Tracy Voreis and Jan Shuettpelz as their Kenan Fellows mentor, she has also worked with them through the Life Science Course of the Middle Grades Math and Science Partnership for Durham Public Schools.

Contact: pshane@unc.edu

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