Instructional Planning Grid (Lesson Plan)

1.) TEKS- The student is expected to identify the components of DNA. (6A)
Objective- The students will be able to identify the Phosphate Group, deoxyribose
sugar and the nitrogenous base. The students will also be able to describe the difference
between a purine and a pyrimidine.

2.) Big Understanding:
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is a self-replicating material present in nearly all
living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic
information.

3.) Assessment Evidence:
You and your fellow classmates have learned the basic components that make
up DNA and have learned the difference between a purine and a pyrimidine. Now you
and your fellow classmates will construct a nucleotide and tell whether it is a purine or
pyrimidine. When this is done the students will get into groups and construct a model of
DNA. Be prepared for a quiz at the end of lecture to assess your knowledge of what was
taught.

4.) Opening Hook:
Imagine you are in a tiny spaceship like in the movie Innerspace with Dennis
Quad and Martin Short, where the spaceship is so tiny you can control your movement
throughout the human body freely. Your mission will be to identify the three
components that make up the building blocks of DNA, name the bases pairs and identify
which two are purines and which two are pyrimidines.

5.) Instructional Strategies/Activities/Student Activities:
The teacher will give an introductory lecture on DNA and its structure. The
students will work in groups and complete an assembly activity to construct one half of
a model of DNA using the four nucleotides. They will then get into a super group to
complete the model. The students will then be able to identify the components of DNA
by labeling the nitrogenous base, deoxyribose sugar, and phosphate group. The will also
be able to identify the four bases pairs understanding which two are purines and which
two are pyrimidines. The teacher will then hand out DNA Activity Questions of which
each original group will have to answer.


6.) Materials/Resources:
-Visual of the DNA structure and Cell Nucleus



-DNA Model Activity
-DNA Model Activity Questions
7.) Grouping Patterns:
-Each table will be a group and then combine with the table behind them to form
a super group.
8.) Ending, Summary/Reflection:
Does anyone have any questions about what we have just went over about
DNA?