Biochemistry Literacy for Kids
Biochemistry Literacy opens the door to the incredible world of chemistry and biochemistry and challenges traditional notions of what is possible from young learners. Through carefully constructed animated videos, students learn how to build and interpret chemical structures and understand their meaning in everyday life. The program gives students durable and deep foundational understanding, and will give them an incredible advantage in school science and beyond.
No previous science knowledge is necessary! Join the 3000+ elementary, junior high, and high school students who have found success in Biochemistry Literacy.
Begin your learning with Biochem 2.0. This unit is a survey of chemistry and biochemistry topics, and sets the stage for further student in more advanced lessons. Click the link below to explore the topics in this unit. After completing this unit, students can move onto the Classic Course, which is a kid-friendly adaptation of a college biochemistry course. Other the next year, more Biochem 2.0 units will be created, eventually creating a greatly-expanded experience for students.
Biochemistry Literacy for Kids revolutionizes STEM learning by making college-level science accessible to K-12 students.
Developed by a Yale-educated chemistry professor, the curriculum creates a unique visual and tactile learning environment that makes high-level chemistry and biochemistry fun and rewarding for kids of any age.
Check out the documentary trailer about the first ever Biochemistry Literacy for Kids Summer Institute
LISTEN TO WHAT KIDS SAY ABOUT BIOCHEMISTRY LITERACY!
Chemical Model Building
Computer Molecular Modeling
Drawing Biomolecules
Medicinal Chemistry
MEDIA AND PARENTS REVIEWS
Here’s what a parent and teacher, Dr, Emily Brewer, says about Biochemistry Literacy! Read her article in Medium.
PHILOSOPHY
Kids instinctively want to know what things are made of, how living things work, and why things are the way they are. Chemistry and biochemistry provide answers to so many of life’s great questions, but unfortunately, these subjects are not emphasized in standard school curricula.
Biochemistry Literacy for Kids fast tracks students to a sophisticated molecular-level understanding of the world around them, helping them see their surroundings in ways they never imagined.
The curriculum illuminates the stunning, three-dimensional world of molecular architectures and the network of biochemical reactions that constitute every living thing.
Through the lesson series, students gain an intuitive understanding of chemistry that will serve them well in high school and college courses. Since the curriculum makes learning advanced material easy, students build remarkable enthusiasm and confidence towards STEM learning.
SAMPLE LESSON VIDEO
Watch the complete narrated video for Lesson 1 of the Biochemistry Literacy for Kids curriculum.
LIVE WEEKLY ZOOM CLASSES
A fun way to enhance the program is to participate in live weekly group classes. Students build molecules together, ask questions, explore new molecular modeling software, and apply their knowledge. These impressive Zoom sessions operate like college classes for kids!
Access the Biochemistry Literacy curriculum
Biochem 2.0 is here! Start your experience with this highly-improved entry to the program. Once completed, students then should proceed to the classic 24 lesson program.
Add a custom molecular model set by Molymod.
Manufactured in England, Molymod sets are the original and highest quality molecular model sets available. The custom kits can only be purchased on this website and are tailored to the Biochemistry Literacy program.
Join a live class.
While the program is designed for independent study with minimal parental oversight, there’s no substitute for interaction with a teacher and other students. Remote classes help students apply what they learn in the video lessons and provide the opportunity for their questions to be answered. See what classes are now forming here.
SCHOOLS
The Biochemistry Literacy curriculum was developed by Professor Daniel Fried over 10 years in public and private schools in the New York area. It is designed so that every student feels empowered to learn science. Check out these documentary videos to hear from parents, students, teachers, and administrators, and to see how the program works in classrooms. Currently the program is being deployed at in public and private schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
See the publications page for peer-edited research articles about our school programs, and check the news page to see what schools are using the curriculum.
Kids talk about Molecular Modeling
Kids talk about Moles
Kids talk about periodic table
Kids talk about flavor molecules
CAMP!
In July 2023, we had our first in-person camp with 50 students from 17 states, Canada, and Australia! What an amazing community! Keep posted for news on the 2024 camp. The camp is an opportunity for kids to apply what they’ve learned in the Zoom classes, work together in lab, and make lifelong friends.
ABOUT THE CREATOR
Hello! I’m Dr. Daniel Fried, creator of the Biochemistry Literacy program. I currently teach chemistry and biology at the upper school at Pingry. Previously, I was a tenured assistant professor of chemistry at Saint Peter’s University, where I began combining ideas about K-12 education with college STEM learning. I also have a B.S. in Biochemistry from Binghamton University, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale University, and a post doc in micobiology from the Weizmann Institute of Science.
I created the Biochemistry Literacy curriculum to bridge the gaps that I felt had held me back during my own education. When I began to pilot my first classes at Yale’s Peabody Museum, I began to realize that kids were desperate for high-level learning. They didn’t want to be treated like children, but more like competent adult learners. I set out on the ambitious task of completely reconstructing how life science and physical science could be taught. After years of working with dozens of schools and thousands of students, Biochemistry Literacy is now poised to train the next generation of great scientists who will solve the health and environmental challenges of the future. I hope you and your students join me on this incredible journey!
FOR AUSTRALIAN PARENTS
I have partnered with two great groups in Australia, HEA and GATCA WA, which distribute curriculum access and molecular model sets. Please contact them for access to my program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have questions? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions, or CONTACT me to ask for more information.
Kids of from early elementary school through high school have completed the program. Check out the sample lesson on the home page and on the Biochem 2.0 page to see how the lessons work. Biochem 2.0 is specifically designed to be fun, easy, and rewarding for everyone!
The classic course is a kid-friendly college biochemistry course, which covers an intro to chemistry and chemical bonding, charge, and the mole concept. Advanced lessons cover the biopolymers: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, membranes, DNA, and RNA.
Biochem 2.0 enhances some of the early lessons of the classic course, and focuses on mastery of chemical bonding and nomenclature, It is multidisciplinary and connects chemistry to other fields, such as astronomy, biology, geology, natural history, and industry. You can download a syllabus at the top of the Biochem 2.0 page.
The custom kit has special pieces that are aligned to the program and learning biochemistry. This combination of pieces can’t be found in other kits, so it’s highly recommended that you purchase a kit along with curriculum access. If you can’t order my kit, you can order the Molymod MMS-008, which has many similarities.
Yes! Biochem 2.0 will eventually replace the entire classic program, but for now, Biochem 2.0 Unit 1 is an amazing way to begin learning. When you complete that course, you can skip some of the classic course lessons, but most of the content of the classic course will be new.
Yes! Biochem 2.0 has some safe and cheap home experiments that add a lot to the experience.
Biochem 2.0 is specifically aligned to the elementary standards, but goes far beyond the typical depth that would be expected at that level. Elementary schools should use this program to give their kids an amazing orientation to chemistry and its connections to other sciences.
Not usually. The majority of kids from 3rd grade up can learn from the video lessons independently. Very young students may require more support. While parents sometimes enjoy learning alongside their students, the intention is that kids learn on their own from the videos and activities.