Curriculum Packages
Educator Events
LEGO® Atoms and Molecules Professional Development Workshop
Transform your teaching of abstract chemical concepts (atoms, molecules, chemical reactions and photosynthesis) through hands-on methods using LEGO bricks!
The workshop costs $50 (check made out to MIT). At the end of the workshop, you will receive a set of classroom materials worth $350 (complete with LEGO bricks, instructional cards, a teacher’s guide, and student handouts) and will feel ready to teach these lessons in your own classroom.
There are currently no workshops scheduled at this time.
Click here or email mindandhandalliance @ mit.edu to get on our mailing list for the next workshop.
Teacher Professional Development Workshop MIT Museum Learning Lab: The Cell
April 29, 2010 Thursday, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
Learn Cell Biology the Hands-On Way Using Molecular Manipulatives Experience both the tactile LEGO® and virtual models employed in this sophisticated simulation of protein synthesis!
Click here to register.
Click here for a flyer about the workshop
Who should attend:
• Middle School and High School Science Teachers who would like to refresh their molecular biology.
• Teachers who are exploring the idea of bringing a class to the Learning Lab at the MIT Museum.
More about the teacher workshop: In this two hour workshop, we will learn about two approaches to teaching molecular biology: using physical manipulatives based on LEGO, and computer modeling. In the facilitated LEGO program, we learn about protein structure by building a channel protein.
First, we build and fold LEGO amino acid chains. We then utilize a gene, created from LEGO nucleotides, and step through transcribing and translating the DNA using the LEGO models of mRNA and tRNA. Because the room is designed to represent a cell, we move between the appropriate cellular compartments as we perform these molecular processes. We finish by placing our channel protein in the cell membrane. In addition, we observe the effect of a single nucleotide replacement in the shape of the resulting protein and discuss cystic fibrosis as an example of such a replacement.
In the computer modeling portion, we work with the program Molecular Workbench, created by the Concord Consortium. This software models the major concepts in protein synthesis and both DNA and protein structure. We will also explore the STAR Biochem program developed at MIT – an amazing 3-D visualization tool for exploring protein structure that we used with more advanced groups, such as AP Biology classes.
Three grade level appropriate lessons are offered at the Museum, meeting the Mass State Standards (middle school, high school and AP)
Past Workshop: AAAS Project 2061 Professional Development Workshop
January 25-27, 2010
MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
This three-day workshop will give you a new perspective on standards-based reform and a new tool for the work that lies ahead. You will use Atlas of Scientific Literacy and other Project 2061 resources to enhance your understanding of science literacy and to improve your curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
More information and registration at the AAAS Website.
Past Workshop: DNA Learning Lab Teacher Professional Development Workshop
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 OR Thursday, October 15th, 2009 (Two workshop dates available)
4:00PM-6:00PM
MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
In this two-hour workshop, we will learn about two approaches to teaching molecular biology: using physical manipulatives based on LEGO and computer modeling.
In the facilitated LEGO program, we learn about protein structure by building a channel protein. First, we build and fold LEGO amino acid chains. We then utilize a gene, created from LEGO nucleotides, and step through transcribing and translating the DNA using the LEGO models of mRNA and tRNA. Because the room is designed to represent a cell, we move between the appropriate cellular compartments as we perform these molecular processes. We finish by placing our channel protein in the cell membrane. In addition, we observe the effect of a single nucleotide replacement in the shape of the resulting protein and discuss cystic fibrosis as an example of such a replacement.
In the computer modeling, we work with the program Molecular Workbench, created by the Concord Consortium. This software models the major concepts in protein synthesis and both DNA and protein structure. We will also explore the STAR Biochem program developed at MIT – an amazing 3-D visualization tool for exploring protein structure that we used with more advanced groups, such as AP Biology classes.
Go to the MIT Museum Workshop webpage to view future workshops.
Edgerton Center Outreach
Bring your classes to MIT for hands-on curriculum at the Edgerton Center!
The Edgerton Center Outreach Program works with school groups, homeschoolers, summer programs and many other groups in the greater Boston area and beyond. We offer exciting, three-hour, hands-on science and engineering activities suited to a range of grade levels, all free of cost. A description of each activity is available online.
Educator Tips for Working with Volunteers
If you’ve decided to have a volunteer in your classroom, we have some information for you to make it more useful and less stressful:
- COSEE Telling Your Story Materials (This site has planning materials for both volunteers and educators.)
- 25 Ways to Catch and Keep Volunteers from www.greatschools.net.
Other MIT Resources
MIT has many K-12 Outreach Resources. For a list and a searchable database, go to web.mit.edu/outreach.
The MIT OpenCourseWare team has compiled a set of materials useful for high school students and teachers.
