Lesson 4.4: Life Science - Mitosis & DNA - Simple Experiment and Reading Comprehension

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Adam

Lesson 4.4 focuses on life science concepts including mitosis and DNA. Students first practice reading comprehension with vocabulary-rich passages, using strategies such as previewing titles, interpreting bold terms, and examining images to build meaning. Learners then read a second passage to strengthen background knowledge, answer questions, and review evidence from the text. The week culminates in a simple DNA extraction experiment using common household materials.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Warm-Up: Journal Writing

KWL chart

Activity 1: Comprehension Reading (Unit 4.4 Handout 1)

Activity 3: Reading and Experiment (Unit 4.4 Handout 2)

SCIENCE Lesson 4.4: Life Science – Mitosis & DNA Weekly Focus: Reading Comprehension Weekly Skill: Simple Experiment Lesson Summary: This week students will read for comprehension about Mitosis and DNA. Then, students will conduct a simple experiment to extract their own DNA. Materials Needed: 􀁸 Comprehension Reading Unit 4.4 Handout 1 (Spectrum Science, Grade 8, pages 46-47) 􀁸 Comprehension Reading & Experiment Steps Unit 4.4 Handout 2 􀁸 Video Unit 4.4 – DNA Extraction Experiment (2:46 min) 􀁸 Ingredients for experiment: (the list is for one person – use quantities for your class size) o 500ml bottled water o 3 x clear plastic cups or glasses o Clear liquid dish soap o 1 tbsp table salt o 100 ml isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol o Blue food coloring 􀁸 Extra Work/Homework Unit 4.4 Handout 3 (Spectrum Science, Grade 6, pages 50-51) Objectives: Students will be able to 􀁸 Read comprehension reading passages with vocabulary related to mitosis and DNA 􀁸 Conduct a simple experiment on DNA extraction College and Career Readiness Standards: RI, RST, WHST, SL ACES Skills Addressed: EC, LS, ALS, CT, SM, N Notes: Please review and be familiar with classroom routine notes for: handling controversial topics ( Routine 5 ) reading for fluency strategies ( Routine 2 ), summarizing techniques ( Routine 4 ), and selfmanagement skills ( Routine 1) . The notes for the different activities will help with making a smooth transition to each activity. GED 2014 Science Test Overview – For Teachers and Students The GED Science Test will be 90 minutes long and include approximately 34 questions with a total score value of 40. The questions will have focus on three content areas: life science (~40%), physical science (~40%), and Earth and space science (~20%) . Students may be asked to read, analyze, understand, and extract information from a scientific reading, a news brief, a diagram, graph, table, or other material with scientific data and concepts or ideas. H. Turngren, Minnesota Literacy Council, 2014 p.1 GED Science Curriculum SCIENCE Lesson 4.4: Life Science – Mitosis & DNA The online test may consist of multiple choice, drop down menu, and fill-in-the-blank questions. There will also be two short answer questions (suggested 10 minutes each) where students may have to summarize, find evidence (supporting details), and reason or make a conclusion from the information (data) presented. The work students are doing in class will help them with the GED Science Test. They are also learning skills that will help in many other areas of their lives. Activities: | Warm-Up: Journal Writing | | | Time: 10-15 minutes | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 􀁸 As students enter the class, have the following written on the board or overhead “Mitosis is the process of cell division. What do you know about cell division?” Have students create a “KWL”chart on a piece of notebook paper (below) . This helps to activate students ’ prior knowledge by asking them what they already Know (column 1); students (collaborating as a classroom unit or within small groups) set goals specifying what they Want to learn (column 2); and after reading students discuss what they have Learned (column 3) .
􀁸 Students apply higher-order thinking strategies which help them construct meaning from what they read and help them monitor their progress toward their goals.
KWL Chart: | | | | | | | | K-What (else) do I KNOW? | W-What do I WANT to know? | | L-What did I LEARN? | | | | | | | | | | Activity 1: Comprehension Reading (Unit 4.4 Handout 1) | Time: 35-40 minutes | | --- | --- | | 1) Hand out Unit 4.4 Handout 1 to students.
2) Explain to students they will read about mitosis. This information is important foundational knowledge for questions that may be on the 2014 GED Science module.
3) Discuss with students that when reading for comprehension, there are many strategies to use: read the title to pr

FAQs

What is the main focus of Lesson 4.4?

Lesson 4.4 builds understanding of mitosis and DNA through reading for comprehension and then a simple DNA extraction experiment.

What materials are students expected to use for the DNA extraction experiment?

Students use bottled water, plastic cups or glasses, dish soap, table salt, isopropyl alcohol, and blue food coloring, with quantities intended for one person and adjusted for the class.

How do the comprehension activities support students?

Students use reading strategies (predicting from the title, using vocabulary in bold, and analyzing images) to answer questions, then update the KWL chart and justify answers with evidence from the text.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Adam