Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Home › Melanoma, Mutations and Abnormal Cell Cycles ›

Melanoma, Mutations and Abnormal Cell Cycles

This minds-on, analysis and discussion activity introduces students to basic cancer biology, somatic mutations, and regulation of the cell cycle. After students view an introductory video about a teen with melanoma, they complete five sections: “What is melanoma?”, “How does a melanoma develop?”, “Why do melanoma cells divide too much?”, “Genes, Environment and Melanoma”, and a final section in which students summarize their major conclusions about melanoma and learn which of these conclusions generalize to other types of cancer.

The Student Handout is available in the first two attached files and as a Google doc designed for use in online instruction and distance learning. The Teacher Notes, available in the last two attached files, provide instructional suggestions and background information and explain how this activity supports the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

AttachmentSize
Melanoma biology SHO.docx4.45 MB
Melanoma biology SHO.pdf629.9 KB
Melanoma biology TN.docx5.85 MB
Melanoma biology TN.pdf998.97 KB
  • share

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.

Download Minds-On Activities for Teaching Biology

Introduction and Activities Listing

Intro and Biological Molecules

Cell

Cell Structure and Function

Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

Cell Division

Cell Division

Genealogy

Genetics

Genealogy

Molecular Biology

Natural Selection

Evolution

Natural Selection

Ecology

Runner

Human Physiology and Health

Subscribe

Subscribe to our listserv to receive notices when we post new activities or significant revisions.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To preserve the value of these learning activities for other teachers, please do not post keys for any questions from any of these activities!

Creative Commons License

Authors

Dr. Ingrid Waldron is Professor Emerita in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Co-authors include Dr. Jennifer Doherty, who is an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department at Michigan State University, and Dr. Lori Spindler, who is a Lecturer in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. They have developed these activities in collaboration with colleagues at Penn and middle school and high school teachers in the Philadelphia area. We are grateful to Craig Douglas for his generous help with graphics.

 

  • share

Coronavirus Teaching Resources

Scanning electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2

Resources for Teaching about Coronavirus has descriptions and links for multiple resources to use in teaching and learning about coronavirus.

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities has 48 remote-ready activities, which work for either your classroom or remote teaching.

Narrative is determined not by a desire to narrate but by a desire to exchange. (Roland Barthes, S/Z)

What's New? Subscribe to Serendip Studio