The MIT Edgerton Center offers diverse molecular models for education. Our Molecule set and three Biology sets (Protein, DNA/RNA, and tRNA) provide tangible learning experiences for abstract concepts.

Using a collection of basic LEGO bricks and our free teaching materials, educators can use our Molecule sets to teach cross-cutting concepts about matter in biology, chemistry, and earth science. Each brick represents an atom, and brick colors are the universal CPK standard colors for elements. Students can model elements, compounds, and mixtures with the bricks and also model different reactions in chemistry, biology, and earth science. 

Unlike most teaching aids, our Biology sets are designed to teach what molecules do, not just what molecules look like. Because they were invented to be manipulated, educators can use the models to teach cell processes in addition to molecular structure. With the Protein sets, students can build and fold proteins, learn about hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, demonstrate all 4 levels of protein structure, create models of proteins they know like insulin, antibodies, and more. With the DNA/RNA sets, students can explore DNA and RNA nucleotide structure, practice both simple and advanced versions of replication, model mRNA transcription, learn about DNA damage, mutations, repair, and model biotechnology techniques like gel electrophoresis and PCR that are used in labs. If you add the tRNA sets, students can also complete protein synthesis by translating the mRNA into a protein chain.

Molecule Sets
Using a collection of basic LEGO® bricks and our free teaching materials, educators can teach cross-cutting concepts about matter in biology, chemistry, and earth science.
Biology Sets
Unlike most teaching aids, the MIT models are designed to teach what the molecules do, not just what molecules look like. These injection molded molecules are made to be manipulated, so educators can teach abstract concepts in concrete ways.

Guidelines for Use and Distribution of MIT Edgerton Center Curriculum

These materials are copyrighted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. STEM Enrichment Modules are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

You are free to copy and distribute our materials to teachers and students, provided that you acknowledge the source and retain any copyright statements on the materials.

Help others to find us by citing the MIT Edgerton Center website where much of the curriculum materials are available for download.

These materials can be adapted by individual teachers for their classroom, but the alterations to the MIT Edgerton Center materials cannot be redistributed beyond your school or host organization. 

USE OF THE MIT NAME: In your advertising materials, you may say that your program uses curriculum developed by the MIT Edgerton Center, and where appropriate, provide a link to our home page. You may not describe your program as a partnership or collaboration with MIT or the MIT Edgerton Center.

We value feedback and suggestions for improvement. Please forward them to us at edgerton-k12-info@mit.edu. As you extend the curriculum, we would like to benefit from your creativity by adding your materials to ours, with appropriate attribution, and then making the expanded materials available to others.