Protein Bracelets - Play Pedagogy

Protein synthesis is a critical piece forming the basis of molecular biology. Given the intricate nature of protein synthesis, what could have been a better way of engaging the students and creative way to know what do they value the most as a part of their journey in IB. This let us to identifying the need to create bracelets on various themes. They decided on the theme and whom to gift the bracelet.

Act Now Bracelet: represents enzymes, proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in our cells. 

Support Bracelet: represents keratin, a protein that gives structure or support to our nails. 

Breathe Bracelet: represents haemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout our body. 

Health Bracelet: represents antibodies, proteins that help the body fight off disease. 

Journey Well Bracelet: this bracelet represents hormones, proteins that travel through our body to help regulate metabolism.

Strength Bracelet: this bracelet represents actin which is a protein that helps muscles contract.

Students chose the theme of bracelet they wished to make ; most of them chose Strength or Health Bracelet. this was insightful to understand the current state of IB students with coursework, managing deadlines and sleepless nights, most of the students prioritised their health on top of everything else. Some students recognised the power of inner strength to navigate what lies ahead of them in few coming weeks of their learning journey. 

Then the students chose the DNA sequence and created the complementary mRNA ( This required them to remember the differences between bases in DNA and mRNA. Using the codon chart they found the protein coded it coded for the corresponding colour to denote it. They were required to practice the skill of reading the codon chart and identifying 20 different proteins made from different combinations of bases. They then made the bracelet with the core beads in the center in the correct order. They all began with the start codon AUG coding for methionine and ended with a STOP codon. ( There could be different codons coding for the same protein).

Each of the beads in the bracelet represented a nucleotide in the messenger RNA and the groups of three beads (codon) in the bracelet represent an amino acid. The cell is able to decipher the message to make a protein.

One of the student gave me a Strength Bracelet he made as he recognised the need of strength to elevate the class strength and learning. This wasn't just a thoughtful gift but also a reminder a huge role an educator plays in the life of a student.






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