top of page
Cracking-The-Code.jpg

CRACKING THE CODE
EDUCATION TOOLKIT

In light of the enormous success of our first educational compliment to BREAKTHROUGH, we are so happy to share with you our newest set of activities focused on the groundbreaking work of Dr. Phil Sharp.

Choose an Activity to start :

11 - Introns Out! Activity.gif

Introns Out! 

Pattern recognition and modeling to discover introns and exons.

12 - Splice of Life Worksheet.gif

Splice of Life!

Modeling RNA processing (5’ capping, 3’ polyadenylation, and splicing) and alternative RNA splicing.

19 - Shhhhh.gif

Shhh! RNAi 

Sequencing the steps of gene silencing using RNA interference.

13 - Splicing Sub Shop.gif

Splicing Sub Shop

Modeling RNA splicing and alternative RNA splicing with an analogy.

16 - Lab Coat.gif

Art Activity: Unfolding Your Lab Coat

Students challenge their own assumptions about who becomes a scientist through a before/after 'Draw a Scientist' activity and an Iceberg activity naming unrewarded strengths.

2 - Cambridge Said No!.gif

Role Play: IRB Panel

Students debate Cambridge, MA's 1976 ban on recombinant DNA research, then role-play IRB stakeholders to decide whether to approve a modern genetic-research case.

17 - Lab Coat.gif

Role Play:
Who Gets The Job?

In a two-round hiring role-play, students notice how classmates' invisible needs shape their experience of the same task, then reframe traits like dyslexia or fidgeting as scientific assets.

5 - Cracking the Claim.gif

Scientific Literacy

Students distinguish between different types of scientific literature and media. They learn how to search and access scientific journal articles, how to differentiate between the different sections of an article, and how to read the article and interpret data and figures present.

15 - The Permanent Edit.gif

Unconventional Scientists

Students reflect on the personal characteristics favored in the path to becoming a scientist.

3 - Can We Should We.gif

Ethical Dimensions of New Biotechnology

Exploring the potential consequences of new biotechnologies, how they affect people and who should decide about rules and regulations

7 - Exploring Public Perception.gif

Exploring PublicPerception of Biotechnology

Public perception can change with new technologies, first being feared ("frankenstein"), then as the newness wears off it often offers hope and when profits get involved everything gets complicated

14 - The Permanent Edit.gif

Heritable Genetic
Change & Ethical Boundaries

Exploring the ideas of heritable diseases and germline genetic manipulation and the ethical complications that come with them. Includes connection to the movie GATTACA with discussion questions about the ethical issues brought up in the movie (PG-13)

1 - Boom, Bust, Repeat.gif

Boom and Bust Cycles
in Technology

From the dot com bubble to biotech and now AI, technology goes through boom and bust cycles. This activity guides students to think about the historical precedent and apply it to our current technological applications.

8 - Exploring Public Perception.gif

Hype vs. Reality in Biotechnology

We all know there are some technologies that change the world, and some people who claim they have technology that will change the world...but don't! How to tell the good bet from the frauds.

4 - Code Meets Code.gif

AI and Unlimited Potential

AI is the new tech on the scene, but can it solve all of our problems?

6 - Cracking the Code Clip Guide.gif

Biotech Techniques
Clip Guide

For instructors looking to integrate parts of the documentary into their established curriculum plan, this document summarizes clips from the film and suggests how some could be integrated.

18 - Art Project.gif

Blog Project

Students work in groups to research and present a new biotechnology product for a public audience

Teacher Resources : Activity Key

Attention teachers - Please fill out this form to receive the answer key for all of the Cracking The Code Educational Activities above...

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE EDUCATORS WHO VOLUNTEERED DEVELOP THIS COURSE

Brewer Headshot.jpg
Rebecca Brewer
Biology Teacher
Troy High School
Headshot EMK 2025.JPG
Emily Mills Ko, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor
in the Los Rios
Community College District
Rebecca Brewer
Biology Teacher
Troy High School
Rebecca Brewer
Biology Teacher
Troy High School
Rebecca Brewer
Biology Teacher
Troy High School

The film is free to stream at no cost on PBS and the PBS App.

 

If requested a link, digital site license or a DVD for your classroom, you will hear from us soon! Feel free to also send us an email.

bottom of page