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

11:00am	PST	(San Francisco, Seattle, ...)
12:00pm	MST	(Phoenix, Denver, ...)
1:00pm	CST	(Chicago, Houston, ...)
2:00pm	EST	(New York, Toronto, ...)
7:00pm	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.

  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 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.