Students of 2de took up a scientific challenge in a fun way: to use candies to create a model of a DNA molecule. This fun and educational activity, carried out in Life and Earth Sciences (SVT) class, made a complex and abstract structure tangible.
DNA, the genetic instruction book of living organisms, is a complex structure that is difficult to conceptualize. With its two twisted strands and complementary nitrogenous bases, the double helix can look quite complicated on paper. Through this workshop, students were able to manipulate and construct a simplified, yet accurate, version of this structure vital to life.
Candies and science: an original combination
Each type of candy represented a specific component: long candies for the DNA strands, and colored candies for the bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine). By assembling these elements, students visualized how DNA stores genetic information.
Interactive, engaging learning
This project offered students much more than a simple hands-on activity. By manipulating the elements, they deepened their understanding of nitrogen bases, strand bonds and the importance of this structure in the storage of genetic information. What’s more, this exercise reinforced their team spirit and creativity, two essential qualities in science.
