Cube Critters – Teacher's Guide - You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube!

Cube Critters – Teacher’s GuideRelevant Life Science Content Standards from the National Science Education Standards5-8: Diversity and Adaptations of OrganismsHereditary information is contained in genes, located in the chromosomes of each cellAn inherited trait of an individual can be determined by one or by many genes and asingle gene can influence more than one traitThe characteristics of an organism can be described in terms of a combination of traitsAlthough different species might look dissimilar, the unity among organisms becomesapparent from an analysis of internal structures and the similarity of their chemicalprocesses9-12: The Cell The genetic information stored in DNA is used to direct the synthesis of the thousandsof proteins that each cell requires9-12: Molecular Basis of HeredityIn all organisms, the instructions for specifying the characteristics of the organism arecarried in DNA, a large polymer formed from subunits of four kinds (A, G, C, and T)The chemical and structural properties of DNA explain how the genetic information thatunderlies heredity is encoded in genes (as a string of molecular “letters”)9-12: Biological Evolution Organisms are classified into a hierarchy of groups and subgroups based on similaritieswhich reflect their evolutionary relationships

This activity is used in my biology class when discussing RNA’s role in transcription andtranslation. The cube acts as our string of mRNA carrying the 18 traits for an imaginary creaturethe students will make. Each row on the cube will code for a single amino acid and to simplifythings, our traits are determined by just one amino acid. This activity works best doneindividually but pairs would work as well.The activity can be simplified by working in groups where each student is responsible for only afraction of the whole cube (1 side only, 2 sides, etc) and then work together on the drawing.Suggestion: The activity can also be used when discussing classification by having the studentsplace a collection of created organisms into classes, orders, families, etc based oncharacteristics of their choosing. They would then need to be able to explain and justify theirclassification.Time1 day in-class (approximately 45 minutes to fill out data tables)3-5 days to complete drawing (can be shorter, I tell my students to take their time because I willhang them up both in the room and the hallway)Materials (per group):1 Rubik’s cube1 Cube Critter handout1 Table of Traits (can be shared between 2 or 3 groups)Unlined paper (for final drawing, I prefer to use legal size printer paper)Colored pencils, crayons, or markersImportant notes:1) Its stated on the student handout but make sure to point out to the students that the centersquare on each side of the cube will never change spots and that’s how the faces are named. Sowhen it says “yellow face” it is dealing with the side of the cube with a yellow center.2) If you haven’t covered it before this activity, it may help to explain how to use a codon table.Left side is the first base, top is the second base, right side shows the last base.3) The diagram at the bottom of the handout shows a way to look at the cube so everyone isusing the same row for the same trait. It’s not absolutely necessary that everyone does this, itjust helps drive the point home that even when reading everything the same way, odds areyou’re going to have different traits.