Black History 365 Sub Plan: The Science of Melanin | Middle School Science| 60-Minute Lesson

This Black History 365 one-day sub plan introduces middle school students to the science of melanin. Students learn how melanin gives color to skin, hair, and eyes, how it helps protect skin from UV radiation, and how human skin color connects to genetics, sunlight, geography, and adaptation.

Designed for a 60-minute class period, this resource requires minimal teacher guidance and is ideal for substitute days, emergency lesson plans, genetics units, adaptation lessons, human body systems, Black History Month, or year-round culturally responsive science instruction.

This resource includes a substitute directions page, student reading passage, vocabulary preview, comprehension questions, melanin and UV radiation diagram activity, cause-and-effect chart, CER writing response, exit ticket, extension activity, and answer key.