Hutch Teacher Fellowship Curriculum Showcase #3

The Hutch Teacher Fellow Curriculum Showcase is a three part event with 1-hour virtual workshops on May 6th, 14th, and 19th. You can register to attend one or all three.

Participants in our Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching (HTF) will share about their teacher-authored curriculum projects for high school science classes. Join us to see for this session to see how two HTF participants translated research experiences into classroom curriculum, get inspired by new ways to bring the topic of cancer into STEM classrooms, and learn more about the HTF program. 

Register

Session #3: Heredity-Linked Cancers & Pedigree Charts and Cancer Careers Exploration in HS Biology Classes

Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 4:00-5:00 pm (Zoom). 

Presented by Dr. Janhavi Gupta (UCVTS-Magnet High School, Scotch Plains, NJ) and Dr. Rama Devagupta (Southridge High School, Kennewick, WA).

Dr. Janhavi Gupta: Genetic Basis of Cancer unit (3 lessons + activities/pedigree problem set)

Course: HS General Biology (could be used in AP Bio)

The discussion of cancer consistently sparks student interest and motivates them to delve into the subject, making it an ideal topic for designing engaging educational units that cover many standards. Designed for High School General Biology and adaptable for AP Biology, Genetic Basis of Cancer is a three-lesson unit that explores the genetic basis of cancer through the lens of a patient diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome. Students delve into karyotypes, mutations, and inheritance patterns while acting as genetic counselors to analyze family histories of patients diagnosed with inherited cancer syndromes constructed from published articles. The unit features engaging activities, including a Harry Potter-themed pedigree construction and the use of bioinformatics databases to classify oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes using real-world research data. These lessons can be used as a whole, or parts can be modified for use as student activities. Other SEP units such as Elephants and Cancer, Cancer Fighting Proteins: Illuminating Cancer, or Intro to Cancer: Leukemia & Hina's Story can be used to further extend these lessons.

Rama Devagupta, PhD, NBCT: Cancer Care Professional Pathways

Course: HS General Biology, Honors Biology (can be used in AP Biology)

Length: 1 week 

Based on the materials from Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s web resource Careers in Cancer Research & Patient Care, "Cancer Care Career Professional Pathways" is a one-week lesson to learn about the intersectionality of science and society and how caring for cancer patients is not limited to the oncologists alone. Students are exposed to 30+ careers of professionals currently working at Fred Hutch and their diverse educational backgrounds, ranging from pure sciences to social sciences, medicine, and healthcare. Students research one career of their choice and share presentations for their peers. This lesson can be integrated into the curriculum either during a cell cycle and cell division unit while teaching cancer, or during breast cancer awareness week. 

Date:
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Start Time:
4 p.m. PDT
Location:
Online

The Zoom link will be sent to registered participants before the event.

Contact Information:
sep@fredhutch.org
Audience:
Middle and High School Life Science Teachers