​This page contains useful sources of teaching materials for primary school teachers, involving many innovative and enjoyable interactive activities in connection with several topics relating to DNA, inheritance and cell biology. 

An educational event for schools was run on Monday 6th November 2023 by Dr Leah Marks, Dr Maria Jackson and Prof Edward Tobias at the University of Glasgow, UK. Class teachers in several countries registered for this free online educational Schools Day session 2023 (on behalf of their middle-upper primary school children). The edited session recording can be watched here: 

Science Education Hub - Radboud University​

Based in The Netherlands, this provides innovative, exciting teaching materials, interactive activities, videos & a book series- for primary schools & teachers, encouraging inquisitive & explorative thinking, e.g. on DNA, replication & inheritance. In English & DUTCH

BBSRC Bioscience for the Future

The BBSRC Bioscience for the Future website contains a section (Resources for Primary Schools) that includes downloadable activities, including Discovering DNA, DNA in the Garden and Build your own cell    

NIH - NHGRI
​Education

This Education section of the NIH National Human Genome Research Institute contains a wealth of relevant online resources, including DNA Day primary school activities, fact sheets, teaching plans for teachers and an online education kit.  

Jeans for Genes -
educational resources

This fund-raising but also educational UK website provides professionally recorded videos of children (of different ages), each talking about their rare condition. It also includes general videos on genes and inheritance, with accompanying downloadable factsheets for teachers.  

Learn Genetics
​University of Utah

A range of resources for the classroom with a set of very attractive animated videos (within the section "Tour of Basic Genetics"), including: "What are traits?", "What are DNA and genes?" and "What are proteins?" 

Educational Resources (NIH)

A large mixed set of resource links for teachers, including a few suitable for primary schools (including "Origami DNA", "Yummy Gummy DNA" i.e. making an edible double helix with sweets and also "Sequence Bracelets").​ 

Unlocking Life's Code &
the Animated Genome

This site (Unlocking Life's Code) was created in association with the National Institutes of Health, USA.  In addition to the film entitled The Animated Genome, it contains other animations and resources for school teachers.  

DNA & chromosomes explanatory animation

Relatively simple but wide-ranging animated video commissioned by the BBC, discussing the structure of DNA, chromosomes and even a little about the mysteries of intergenic DNA.  Suitable for older primary school children.

Teacher's toolbox
Arizona State University

A range of activities, explanations, podcasts, word-search sheets & crosswords, relating to biology, including DNA, genes & cells. It includes DNA pages encouraging children to think about e.g. triplet combinations. Resources are searchable.

LOCALIZED/NATIONAL INITIATIVES

Nederland
LeveDNA!
Wetenschapsknooppunt Radboud Universiteit ​