MetaPet Field Mode — Australian Schools
Lesson 3: DNA Makes Us Different
Students compare Meta-Pets to see how DNA creates differences.
- Years
- 3–6
- Suggested time
- 25 minutes
- Use
- Teacher-led
- Records
- Alias-only, local device
Learning intention
Understand that small differences in DNA lead to different pets.
Learning areas: Science · Biology · Data & patterns
Success criteria
- I can spot differences between two Meta-Pets.
- I can connect a difference to its DNA.
- I can explain that DNA makes each pet unique.
Teacher opening
This lesson previews the DNA Lab. In Pass 1 students compare two demonstration pets; later they will change real DNA values and watch results.
No two Meta-Pets are exactly the same. The secret is their DNA — a tiny code inside them. Let's compare two pets and find where their DNA made them different.
Five guided steps
1. Introduce DNA
- Teacher says / does
- Explain that DNA is a code that makes each pet unique.
- Student task
- Think about what makes two pets different.
- Expected outcome
- Students understand DNA causes differences.
2. Observe two pets
- Teacher says / does
- Show two demonstration pets side by side.
- Student task
- Look carefully at both pets.
- Expected outcome
- Students are comparing the two pets.
3. Find the differences
- Teacher says / does
- Ask students to list the differences they see.
- Student task
- Find and note differences between the pets.
- Expected outcome
- Students have found several differences.
4. Discuss the causes
- Teacher says / does
- Connect the differences back to DNA.
- Student task
- Share a difference and what might have caused it.
- Expected outcome
- Students link differences to DNA.
5. Save and finish
- Teacher says / does
- Summarise how DNA makes every pet unique.
- Student task
- Remember one difference you found.
- Expected outcome
- The lesson is completed and recorded.
Support option
Find just one difference between the two pets and name it.
Extension option
Predict what a third pet would look like from a new DNA code.
Discussion prompts
- What differences did you find?
- Which difference is the biggest?
- Why is it good that pets are different from each other?
Teacher notes — aliases only
Do not record student names, contact details or identifying information.