1. Stem Cells in the 7th Grade Classroom
Nick Hartfield

2. My background B.A. Human Biology, Stanford University
M.A. Urban Education, Loyola Marymount University
1 prior course in stem cells, 1 prior course in developmental biology

3. School Context 7th year in the classroom
4 years as a K-5 science teacher in Oakland, CA
2 years as 7th grade science teacher in NYC and Schenectady
Currently entering 2nd year at Central Park Middle School in Schenectady City School District teaching 7th grade science

4. Curriculum Overview: 7th Grade Science
Introductory science course for grades 7-12
Strong focus on chemistry, physics, research, inquiry skills, engineering, scientific method
Student background knowledge highly varied

5. Engineering Unit Occurs after the introductory scientific method unit.
Students will be able to:
Describe how engineers use the Engineering Design Process to solve problems
Develop a model for solving problems

6. NGSS / NYS Science Standards for Engineering

7. NGSS / NYS Science Standards for Engineering

8. Day 1
Pre-assessment
Bridging conversation: how can we build living structures to help us?
Background on stem cells

9. Day 2
Students assigned teams and injuries, tissues, or diseases that they may want to find a solution for:
Diabetes
Heart tissue
Tendon injury
Etc.
Students given scaffolded research sheet to learn more about the scope of the problem and current treatments or therapies

10. Day 3 Students introduced to the concepts / vocab of:
Pluri/multipotency
Differentiation
Transcription factors
As they progress through a differentiation “game” trying to engineer the cells needed for the tissue
Students record paths taken and choices made as they attempt to create their tissue

11. Day 4 Students read about challenges with stem cell therapies
Students suggest best course of treatment and possible future course of research regarding their assigned issue
Post-assessment

12. Future lab activities
Working to develop gel-like materials to test rigidity/stiffness/suitability for different tissues
Further current events or ethics readings
Further research into biomedical engineering
CRISPR module
Integration with literacy units on bioengineering

13. Research Dr. Corr’s lab Differentiation lab Drug delivery lab
Engineering tendon tissue
Stiffness of substrates
Differentiation lab
Drug delivery lab