The elegance of DNA is in its simplicity. There is no reason why a model of DNA cannot be just the two base pairs. And there is no reason why this could not be given to fourth graders. This is a color, cut and paste activity and will result in a better image of DNA structure than the more complex models.

Dear elementary school teachers: Please trust me. This will work with your students! You do not need to know anything! I say, leave out the long words, leave out the biochemistry, leave all that out. Honest.

Your students will produce even tens of feet of DNA. It makes a wonderful display in the hall!

The download is a zip file it includes:

The paper template. Make about two copies per student.

A transparency slide with simple directions regarding coloring, cutting and pasting etc.

A short, easy description to the teacher.

A short video

Some academic information with long words for older students. It should be ignored for younger kids.

You will need:

Paper for copies; two pages per student.

Scissors

Glue sticks

Markers for coloring. Just a few colors, but lots of markers for each color. Ordinary highlighters may be best. We used brown colored pencil for the sides.