How to Teach Kids About DNA

Learning about DNA can be eye-opening for kids of all ages. It encourages their curiosity and can inspire a sense of wonder that something as important as DNA can fit inside a tiny cell.

There are many engaging and enjoyable science activities that teach kids about DNA using objects they’re already familiar with — for example, extracting DNA from strawberries that they also enjoy as an after-school snack.

Let’s explore definitions of DNA for kids, and try out the strawberry DNA extraction experiment at home to see DNA up close and personal.

Why Should Kids Learn About DNA?

Have your kids ever wondered why they look like you? That’s a great opportunity to talk to them about DNA and how it works in everyday life.

Even at an early age, kids start to notice their physical traits, like their eye color and hair color. Maybe your child wonders why everyone in your family has brown hair or blue eyes. You can say that this is because DNA and genes are passed down from moms and dads to kids, and this is why we tend to look like our parents.

What Are DNA, Genes and Chromosomes?

DNA is found in every single cell of our bodies and every cell of all living things, including people, animals and plants. DNA is the blueprint for who we are and what we look like, including our eye color, hair color and height.

One simple way to describe DNA to your child is to compare it to a book. Inside that book, there are multiple chapters that divide the book into separate parts. Those chapters within DNA are called chromosomes, and each of those chapters contains multiple paragraphs called genes. Genes are the building blocks of our bodies and contain all of the genetic information that makes us who we are. Fun fact — every human has around 20,000-25,000 genes!

What does DNA look like? If you put DNA under a powerful microscope, you would see that DNA looks like a twisting ladder. This ladder contains all the instructions for how we look on the outside and how our bodies work on the inside.

Step-by-Step Guide to the DNA Strawberry Experiment

Try out this fun, hands-on activity that extracts DNA from strawberries so kids see what chromosomes and genes look like right before their eyes.

Materials Needed

Here are the materials you’ll need for this strawberry DNA experiment:

• 1 bunch of strawberries
• 1/3 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of dish soap
• 1 large zip-close bag
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 coffee filter
• 1 beaker or other large glass
• 1 bottle of cold rubbing alcohol with a percentage of at least 90% alcohol — We recommend putting the bottle of rubbing alcohol in your fridge overnight to cool it down.
• 1 toothpick

Instructions for Strawberry DNA Extraction

This science experiment takes around 30-45 minutes. Follow these steps:

1. Pour 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 1/3 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of salt into the zip-close bag.
2. Seal the bag tightly, and shake it from side to side carefully — kids can help with the shaking to mix up the ingredients themselves!
3. Place one or two strawberries in the bag and seal it. Working together, use your fingers to smush the berries into small pieces.
4. During this step, you can discuss what’s happening as the soap breaks down the cell walls of the strawberries and releases the DNA into the liquid.
5. Place the coffee filter into the beaker or large glass. Pour the mixture from the zip-close bag over the filter into the beaker so only liquid remains.
6. Slowly pour an equal amount of at least 90% rubbing alcohol over the strawberry liquid into the beaker or glass. The key is to pour down the side of the beaker slowly so that the layers do not mix. For best results, use cold alcohol that has been refrigerated overnight.
7. Wait one minute. During this time, you can talk about how the strands of DNA are separating from the strawberry liquid. Watch as the white stringy stuff slowly collects in the beaker or glass — that’s DNA!
8. Use a toothpick to pull out the white DNA strands to get a closer look. DNA is long and stringy, and when those strands get tangled up, it creates a slimy texture.
9. While the white strands in the beaker may only be a couple of inches long, a fun fact you can share is that the DNA inside every one of your cells is around 6 feet long. Have kids compare that to how tall they are!

Encourage Your Child’s Love for Science With Science Explorers

At Science Explorers, we are passionate about offering hands-on programs that get children ages 4 to 11 excited about science. Our after-school STEM clubs and summer STEM camps are fun, engaging and interactive, helping students learn about the world around them — or in the case of DNA, the world inside their own bodies — while promoting a lifelong love for learning.

Register for a club or camp today and explore more science experiments in our blog!