DNA and Binary Backpack Charms
- OmniLearn Team
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
This is a super fun crafty project for students of all ages! Using different color pony beads, pipe cleaners and a keychain loop (optional), your students can make a personalized backpack charm! Here we outline two different backpack charm ideas, both involving sequences, patterns, and coding information: DNA Models & Binary Names! As always, FREE resources included at the bottom!
Activity 1: DNA Model Backpack Charms
In this activity, students build a 3D model of DNA using pipe cleaners and colorful pony beads. Each color represents one of the four nitrogen bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). Students pair them up correctly (A with T, and C with G) to form the classic “twisted ladder” shape known as the double helix.
To make the twists, connect two pipe cleaners at the bottom, add a pair beads, one on each strand, and then twist the pipe cleaners again over the beads. This will lock them in place and then students can add their next pair of beads. Once complete, just attach a keychain loop and the model becomes a charm students can clip onto their backpacks.
Even though every model uses the same four “letters,” the order of those letters changes everything. That’s why no two DNA strands (or students!) are exactly the same, even with just four building blocks. Students can either choose their own color code or you can assign a color to each nucleotide. When everyone has the same color code, it is easy to see how everyone's strand will look different even though there are only four colors, . This represents how everyone's DNA is different even though it is made of the same four building blocks. From jellyfish to bacteria to fungi to humans to a giant redwood tree, all living things are made up of DNA using the same four nucleotides arranged in different sequences.
Want to level up the lesson? Kick it off with a little classroom theater: “cook up” a DNA model in a pretend Big Bang pot, toss in your “elements,” and reveal a hidden double helix at the end. It’s science and showmanship all in one! (It's a Ms Jane Favorite!)
Activity 2: Write Your Name in Binary Code
Binary code is the simplest way for computers to store and process information. Instead of using letters, it relies on just two numbers: 0 and 1. Every letter, symbol, and number on a computer can be represented as a unique pattern of zeros and ones, sort of like the “DNA” of the digital world.
In this activity, students use a binary chart to write their initials using only 0s and 1s. Once they determine their binary pattern, they add the beads to the pipe cleaner in that exact pattern. Students could use black and white beads or any two colors of their choosing.
Whether you’re exploring genetics, introducing coding, or just want a fun, meaningful maker project, these activities are guaranteed to spark curiosity and conversation. So grab those beads, pipe cleaners, and pencils, and let your students discover how patterns and codes shape everything from life itself to their favorite video games!
Happy Sciencing!
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