Hair of the Skeleton

Teaching Resources

A lot of the research for this series was done by reading New Scientist magazine. Look at their website (www.newscientist.com) and try to find an article with some cool science that you can put into a story. Then write the story.
What is DNA? Can you really get it from hair? There are several types of DNA - what is the difference between mitochondrial DNA and nucleic DNA?
DNA is shaped like a double helix. Make a model of a helix. The double helix shape is useful - the Sydney Opera House carpark is shaped like this. Why would the designers have chosen this shape? The helix appears many times in nature. In fact, the word 'helix' is used as the scientific name for a particular animal. Which animal? And can you identify any other animals which use the helix shape?
The rules for succession to the Japanese throne are different from those for the British throne. How are they different? How are they similar? If you were making up the rules, what would they be? For example, in Anglo-Saxon times kings were elected...
Ghosts are traditionally scary. Make up a scary story about a ghost and act it out. Try reading Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.