To allow students to explore the part of the cell a gave the students a blank plant and animal cell along with a copy of the PPT on Cell organelles. Students were instructed to use the notes and other resources to identify the cell parts. Students were expected to color code their notes with the animal cell and the plant cell organelles. Any items in the notes that were not visible to label on the diagram were to be copied in pencil all other notes were to be written using the same color they used identify the organelle.This activity goes along well with my Cell Boxing Activity that you can have access to along with other free goodies here on my free lesson page.
As an extension to inheritance of traits, students analysed and created a pedigree chart based on a passage that was given. The pedigree was placed into their Interactive Notebook as pictured below.
On left: Students create a pedigree based on the story. On Right: A key for making a pedigree chart.
After presenting on meiosis and mitosis I had my students create foldables of five assessed vocabulary terms. I gave them 900 seconds to complete the assignment. I use seconds to get the students involved with math and it allows me to easily adjust the time without the students noticing. I made the lesson a competition and offered a homework pass to the most creative and correct foldables. Students had to include a picture with five colors, the definition, example and pronunciation. Their work was high quality and done quickly since they were judged after 15 minutes.
This week with testing interruptions, I gave the students notes on photosynthesis and respiration. It took two full class periods to get through the notes and they we far from being in-depth and wordy with only 20 slides (many with pictures). My typical strategy for notes is to give the students a PPT handout and allow them to copy them into their notes. I would simply print out a handout or even guided notes for each student and have them glue them into their notebook but the “Copy Police” would be on to me in no time. I need to find a way of giving notes that is effective and efficient. I would just cruise through the notes like a college professor and leave it up to the students to get the notes from my student website but intrinsic motivation seems to be lacking for most of my students (4 inclusion classes) . Also, for some reason students, parents and administration seem to believe that if they did not take notes on a topic it wasn’t taught. I have tried many different methods to get around spending so much time on the notes but have not really been successful. I am considering trying a flipped classroom approach (notes at home and practice in class) but I fear many students especially those who are already do not do homework will become further lost. I need suggestions and ideas. Comments Please.
