Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Extract strawberry DNA and invent a plant in this three-week plant genetics course for elementary school students on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.
Course Description
Why does a plant have tall stems, purple flowers or jagged leaves? Students begin with real plants and seeds, then investigate the tiny instructions behind those visible traits. They plant fast-growing seeds, track changes in a journal and watch colored water travel through celery stems.
The class moves from plant parts into genetics. Students extract DNA from strawberries, build a double-helix model with paired bases and compare inherited traits with learned traits. They open soaked beans to find the embryo, seed coat and cotyledon, explore pollination and group plants into families by shared features.
Each student invents a plant with its own DNA pattern, traits, habitat and helpful mutation. They develop the idea through capstone checkpoints, rehearse their explanation and present the finished model during a Plant Genetics Showcase.
This three-week course is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The program is available to commuter students. Beyond class, students take part in campus activities, make new friends, and build confidence trying something new.
What Will You Do?
• Plant fast-growing seeds and record changes in a plant journal
• Watch colored water move through celery stems and compare the results
• Extract visible strands of DNA from strawberries
• Build a double-helix model using the A-T and C-G pairing patterns
• Investigate seeds, inherited traits, habitats, pollination and plant mutations
• Design and present an original plant with its own DNA, traits and habitat
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain how DNA carries instructions that influence plant traits
• Observe plant growth and record evidence using drawings and simple descriptions
• Create and present a model that connects DNA, traits, mutations and habitat
Students will leave with a course completion certificate, a plant journal, a double-helix model and an original plant capstone that may spark more questions about genetics and the natural world.
Why Plant Genetics Skills Matter
Plant genetics gives young scientists a way to connect what they can see with what is happening inside a living thing. Observing a seed, recording growth and comparing traits teaches students to slow down, notice details and use evidence to explain a change.
Building models also makes an invisible idea easier to understand. When students pair DNA bases, design plant traits and explain how a mutation may help a plant survive, they practice following patterns, making predictions and communicating scientific thinking in their own words.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for elementary school students who have completed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade and are curious about plants, animals, DNA, or how living things grow. It is a strong fit for children who enjoy building models, making observations, drawing, gardening, and sharing what they discover.
Students should be ready to join group discussions, handle classroom materials carefully, and work on a project over several days. Scientific ideas are introduced through concrete experiments, creative making, and age-appropriate explanations.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page. A completed program application is required.
Why Bryn Mawr?
Bryn Mawr gives elementary students a welcoming place to spend the day learning, creating, and meeting new friends. Its historic, tree-lined setting near Philadelphia makes a summer class feel special and academically structured while remaining close enough for students to return home each afternoon.
The commuter-day format combines hands-on academics with a clear daily routine, shared activities, and Summer Discovery support throughout the program day. Students can try something new, build confidence through participation, and enjoy the fun of learning on a college campus without an overnight stay. For families, Bryn Mawr offers a thoughtful balance of creativity, academic challenge, friendship, and age-appropriate independence in a structured day-program environment.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive