Description
A comprehensive, 5E inquiry, week-long lesson plan that introduces students to separation science in a variety of contexts. Student-driven inquiry activities impart the scientific background needed to understand gel electrophoresis. The curriculum culminates in a gel electrophoresis experiment using colorful dyes. The curriculum is provided as a downloadable PDF manual which includes comprehensive background readings, student worksheets, and teacher support materials. Lab materials and a PowerPoint presentation are also included. Recommended for middle school students (grades 6-9).
Materials Included in Each MiniLab:
Each MiniLab contains enough materials for 10 workstations, 2 – 3 students per workstation.
Materials include:
- Ten 1% agarose gel cups
- Six color dye samples
- One set of filter papers and green food coloring for exploring paper chromatography
- One bottle of 100 mL Tris-Borate-EDTA (TBE) buffer concentrate, enough to make 2L of 1X running buffer
- One bag of 0.65 mL microcentrifuge tubes
- One bag of 2-200 µL micropipette tips
- Downloadable PDF manual which includes comprehensive background readings, student worksheets, and teacher support materials
Teaching Resources
Utilize these teachers guides and classroom handouts to get the most out of your NGSS-Aligned Color Dyes and Gel Electrophoresis MiniLab.
Please contact us for teacher’s guide, student guide, and other resources.