This TED talk is one of my favorite to show students. It does a great job explaining how organisms evolve and how our own skin pigmentation is evidence for evolution. I use the video with this Video Worksheet to introduce evolution.
This week my students enjoyed a fun biochemistry lab where they had to examine the stomach contents of a victim to determine where the victim had his last meal. Through this investigations students practiced procedure writing, lab safety and used chemical indicators to test for carbohydrates (glucose and starch), lipids and proteins.
Biochemistry Lab (adapted from: Lesson adapted from Camron J. Stanley 2008http://sciencespot.net/Media/FrnsScience/MurderMeal)
This week as the students were learning about macromolucules I decided to do something a little different to get students outside on a beautiful day. I thought it would be fun to have students create sidewalk chalk drawings of macromolecules instead of doing a poster. The students loved this activity. I even saw other students who were not in a Biology class posing and taking pictures with the designs after school.
Don’t forget to share this activity!
One of my favorite units to teach is on macromolecules. When I introduce this topic I use this macromolecule graphic organizer to help students organize the information.
After introducing this concept I use one of my hands-on biochemistry boxing activities that I created and have for sale on Teachers Pay Teacher (4 Star rating!). I have several different activities that I use with the lesson. You can get the lesson plan (and others) and printable boxes free by signing up here. You will be emailed a link to the biochemistry boxing activity lesson plan and receive weekly post updates . The lesson plan includes:
-5 printable boxes and instructions for 3 games/activities.
-Score Cards
-Biochemistry Boxing Answer Key
-Macromolecule organizer – graphic organizer.
-4 exit tickets
-detailed lesson plans for 5-7 (50 min classes) days of instruction.
You will also get access to my printable cell organelle boxing activity and my lab report rubric and guide. Enjoy!
One challenge that many teachers face is differentiated instruction for gifted and talented students. To have a classroom that is truly differentiated teachers need to address the learning need of all students. To do this, the gifted and talented students also need to remain engaged and challenged in the curriculum. One way to address this is with the use of a Compacting Plan. For a compacting plan the teacher examine their current curriculum and identifies content or skills that can be accelerated or eliminated after conducting a pre-assessment. When I complete a compacting plan I am sure to open the opportunity up to all of my students if they are able to achieve a certain score on the pre-assessment. It prevents accusations of being unfair and they may be some students who surprise you. After determining what students are eligible you present them with the compacting plan. I have attached an example of a compacting plan that I have developed for the unit on cells a topic that many students are exposed to in middle school. Check out my sample compacting plan on cells here.