I have a cool raspberry DNA activity for kids.
Also, I’m sharing some fun raspberry facts and hands-on DNA activities for kids.
And I have a fun science activity extracting DNA from a raspberry. You can do this with all your kids.
Your younger kids will enjoy the wow factor but learn about DNA with your older kids.
The study of DNA is amazing. It’s inside every living plant and animal.
But is DNA still present after we pick a raspberry or even cook with it? Your older learners can ponder their thoughts.
DNA FUN FACTS FOR KIDS
Plus, it can be hard to introduce this topic.
For example, I tell my kids DNA is like an instruction manual for living things.
Besides, when scientist extract DNA from plants they can learn more about how it grows and even how to make them tastier.
And what makes this science activity fun is that with a few ingredients they help break down the raspberry’s DNA into individual parts.
Too, kids need to know that for scientist to extract DNA they must break up each of the protective layers of the cell. Then carefully pull out the DNA hidden inside the nucleus.
However the first step before explaining what is DNA is to start with cells. All living things are made of cells.
And each cell has a nucleus where the DNA is stored.
BOOKS ABOUT RASPBERRIES FOR KIDS
Next, I have a collection of books.
Where possible I prefer living books but also we love nonfiction books to check facts.
6 Raspberry Themed Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
You’ll love this collection of books to add to your home library or for a raspberry unit study.
Inspired by the most famous of all Canadian children's books, L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables,this cookbook combines easy step-by-step recipes with charming watercolours of Anne and her friends and quotations from three of the ever-popular Anne books. Never before have good things to eat and drink been so successfully derived from cooking episodes in children's literature. From 'Poetical Egg Salad Sandwiches' to 'Anne's Liniment Cake' and 'Diana Barry's Favourite Raspberry Cordial,' these delicious treats will be fun to make--and they'll be sure to turn out well because they were kitchen-tested by a twelve-year old who had perfect results!
Frances is a fussy eater. In fact, the only thing she likes is bread and jam. She won't touch her squishy soft-boiled egg. She trades away her chicken-salad sandwich at lunch. She turns up her nose at boring veal cutlets.
Unless her parents can come up with a plan, Frances just might go on eating bread and jam forever!
Join the generations of families that have laughed along as Frances sings "Jam on biscuits, jam on bread, Jam is the thing I like most, Jam is sticky, jam is sweet, Jam is tasty, jam’s a treat—raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry, I’m very FOND…OF…JAM!"
It's inside every living plant and animal, from the tiniest seed to the person standing next to you, but how much do you know about DNA? This book gives children an in-depth look at DNA and its role in all living things--from why we have different-colored eyes to why we age. Discover what DNA is, what it does, and how it shapes our lives, including inheritance and why we look like our parents; forensic science and how DNA evidence helps catch criminals; and genetic engineering and if we could bring dinosaurs back to life. With fun illustrated DNA characters, clear diagrams, and astonishing photographs, children will love learning about themselves and this all-important molecule.
“This charming pourquoi tale tells of an Eskimo girl and her magic. Sloat’s pictures are vibrant and engaging, befitting the land of the northern lights. . . .Delightful, playful and beautifully written.”―School Library Journal
Long ago, the only berries on the tundra were hard, tasteless, little crowberries. As Anana watches the older ladies in her village complain bitterly while picking berries for the Fall Festival, she decides to use her magic to help.
"Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsaukina! (Be a berry!)," Anana sings under the full moon, turning the four dolls she sewed with a different color pelatuuk (or head scarf) into little girls that run and tumble over the tundra creating patches of fat, juicy berries: blueberries, cranberries, salmonberries, and raspberries.
The next morning Anana and the ladies fill basket after basket with berries for the Fall Festival. Thanks to Anana, there are plenty of tasty berries for the agutak (Eskimo tee cream) at the festival and forevermore.
After hard times hit and his bakery is forced to close, popular baker Simon is remembered by a young girl in a family he once helped in their time of need who gives him enchanting berries, and when Simon sells them to a local baker, things quickly turn around as people start clamoring for more.
Describes a variety of berries, nuts, and seeds that might be found on a nature walk and includes identification information.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested. Color illustrations enhance the presentation.
Next, look at some fun facts about raspberries.
RASPBERRY FACTS
- Raspberries can be other colors like black, yellow or purple, not just red.
- They are not really berries but technically aggregate fruits. That means they have many tiny sections or drupes not just one berry.
- Packed with loads of vitamin C, they are super healthy for you.
- Although they love the sun, they can grow in cold places.
- People in Ancient Rome and Greece grew and ate raspberries.
- And raspberries belong to the rose family.
- They have tiny seeds inside. They have about 100 seeds.
- Pollinators love the sweet smell of raspberries. They’re great for pollinators.
And look at some of these DNA activities for kids.
DNA ACTIVITY FOR KIDS IDEAS
- How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model
- How to Extract DNA from a Banana
- How to Make a Plant Cell Model Edible for Kids
- How to Build a Sweet DNA Model
- How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model
- How To Extract DNA From Strawberries
- DNA Teaching Resources
And here are more berry activities.
HANDS-ON BERRY ACTIVITIES
Additionally, the rose family consists of many berries.
For instance, it includes cherries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
- Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets
- How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
- Free Printable Strawberry Notebooking Pages
- Fun American Civil War Crafts for Kids and Make Raspberry Jam
- Life Cycle Of a Strawberry Facts and Fun Hand Sewn Felt Strawberry
- Strawberry Unit Study.
Finally, look at how to extract DNA from raspberries.
HOW TO EXTRACT DNA FROM RASPBERRIES WITH KIDS
Look at this list of supplies.
- 2-3 raspberries
- 1 sandwich-size baggie
- Rubbing alcohol (Over 70% works best)
- Small glass or plastic jar
- Coffee filter
- Rubber band
- Dish soap
- Salt
- Water
- Small bowl
- Wooden skewer
First, place the bottle of rubbing alcohol in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
Next, place the raspberries into the baggie, seal it, and mash them.
In the small bowl add 2 tsp of water, ½ tsp of dish soap, and a pinch of salt.
Stir to mix.
Add the soap mixture to the mashed-up raspberries.
Squish the liquid around with the raspberries and mix it well.
Set aside.
Lay the coffee filter over the jar, push it into it, and secure it with the rubber band.
Carefully pour a small amount of the raspberry mixture into the coffee filter.
The liquid will slowly drip into the jar.
Continue to add a small amount of mixture at a time. This may take a few minutes.
Remove the filter.
Fill the jar ¾ of the way full with the chilled rubbing alcohol.
Watch as the raspberry DNA begins to float and swirl around.
Use the skewer to gently grab the raspberry DNA.
Mixing the mashed raspberries with the soap, water, and salt mixture helps break down the raspberry’s DNA into individual parts.
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