1
25-30 min
Blood Components and Their Roles
Dive deeper into the components of blood and understand how each element contributes to overall health.
Start LessonMiddle School
Systems, Genetics & Public Health
Explore the science of blood, genetics, and how communities work together to address public health needs. Designed for middle school students in grades 6-8.
Unit Overview
Systems, Genetics & Public Health builds on elementary concepts to introduce middle school students to more complex ideas about blood, genetics, and community health systems.
Students will explore:
- Blood components in greater scientific detail
- Basic genetics concepts including blood type inheritance
- How donor registries work and why matching matters
- Health equity and the importance of diverse donor pools
- Ethical considerations around altruism and community responsibility
Lessons
2
25-30 min
Genetics Basics: Blood Types & Matching
Explore how blood types are inherited and why matching matters for transfusions and transplants.
Start Lesson3
25-30 min
What Is a Donor Registry?
Learn how donor registries work, why they exist, and how they connect patients with potential donors.
Start Lesson4
25-30 min
Public Health, Diversity & Equity
Examine why diversity in donor registries matters and explore concepts of health equity and community responsibility.
Start LessonFor Teachers
Science Integration
This unit connects with life science standards on genetics and heredity. Blood types provide a concrete example of inheritance patterns that students can understand and explore.
Pedagogical Approach
- Use problem-solving scenarios to engage critical thinking
- Include fictionalized case studies to illustrate concepts
- Facilitate group discussions on ethical considerations
- Encourage students to form and defend their own conclusions
Note on HLA Matching
HLA matching is introduced conceptually—students don't need to understand the full complexity. Focus on the idea that matching is more complex than blood types and that ancestry affects match likelihood.
For Families
Dear Families,
Our class is exploring biology, genetics, and public health through the lens of blood and bone marrow donation awareness. This aligns with Washington State's guidance on blood and bone marrow donation awareness instruction (RCW 28A.210.430), which encourages schools to offer this content beginning in 2025-26.
Students will learn how blood types are inherited, how donor registries help match patients with potential donors, and why diverse participation in these systems matters for health equity.
Important: This curriculum is educational and does not encourage or pressure any action. Students cannot register as donors—that's a decision for eligible adults to make on their own terms.
Unit Vocabulary
A curated selection of terms used across the unit. Each lesson introduces additional vocabulary in context — see the individual lesson pages for the full term list.
- Blood Type
- A classification of blood based on inherited characteristics (A, B, AB, or O) and the Rh factor (+ or -).
- Genetics
- The study of how traits are passed from parents to children through genes.
- Inheritance
- The process by which characteristics are passed from parents to their offspring.
- HLA Markers
- Human Leukocyte Antigens—proteins on cells that help match donors and patients for transplants.
- Compatibility
- When two things work well together; in donation, when a donor and patient are a good match.
- Registry
- A database of people who have signed up to potentially help others, like potential donors.
Educational Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Blood and bone marrow donation eligibility is determined by medical professionals for adults only.
The Jada Bascom Foundation does not encourage minors to register as donors. This curriculum supports awareness and informed decision-making for future adults.