Life Science - COVID-19: How to test for a virus

In this MEL Academy lesson your children will:

  • learn about cells and viruses
  • understand the COVID-19 testing
  • extract DNA from fruit

Lesson time

8:00am   PST (San Francisco, Seattle, ...)
9:00am   MST (Phoenix, Denver, ...)
10:00am   CST (Chicago, Houston, ...)
11:00am   EST (New York, Toronto, ...)
4:00pm   GMT (London, ...)

Lesson duration: 45-55 minutes.

Prepare in advance

In this lesson, we will conduct several DIY experiments. Prepare in advance household materials shown below. The numbers refer to which DIY the equipment is used for.

DIY Materials

  2 х Spoons
  Access to hot and cold tap water
  gelatine (agar-agar) or any clear paste
  Kinder-surprise or an equivalent
  5 X Pipe Cleaners
  6 x different colour beads
  Dried beans (e.g lima beans)
  5 or more different shape liquorice sweets
  banana or strawberry or kiwi fruit
  Dish soap
  strong alcohol (40% or more) or surgical spirit
  Salt
  3 x tall glasses
  Ice (from a fridge)
  Tweezers or skewer
  Access to a blender (optional)


Tutor

This lesson is presented by Daniel Sullivan:

Daniel Sullivan

Daniel Sullivan is a hugely enthusiastic and experienced ex-head of science with over 20 years of teaching experience. He is now running a science teacher training company and is looking forward to engaging with students once again.