What we've been up to...

When I came to the class last week, the students were wrapping up their cell posters and analogies. They all did such great work! Mrs. Townsend had me set up the bulletin board in the hallway to display the work for everyone to see. 

Hallway Bulletin  board

Using a resource I found on EdHelper, I organized, laminated and bound the resource into a collection of books that the students will use alongside a worksheet to work more with Mitosis! To help the students (1) practice their non-fiction skills and (2) to give the students a science resource. There is no science textbook used so the students don't get the opportunity to have a physical resource unless they get on the computer to research; that can get iffy often however, unless provided with a safe site. 

Mitosis: Cell Division by Cindy Grigg

Up this week in Sixth Grade!

The class has been learning about Cells, and until this point they have learned about Animals cells and the organelles within! This afternoon I am doing a mini lesson with the class to help them to understand the differences between plant and animal cells. 

Image captured from http://leavingbio.net/cell%20structure_files/cell%20structure.htm

We will be doing a vocabulary pairing activity. During which the students will each have a card that has either a word or definition and they will have to find the match among their classmates. When all the words have been paired with definitions, we will match the organelle with the word using Cells Alive. When we come across new organelles or functions, we will pause to clarify why we have not heard of that organelle yet. 

During class Wednesday, I will introduce the idea of Mitosis -- the asexual reproduction of cells to form tissue. Learning about Mitosis will help the students move from basic cells to specialized cells that join to form tissues! I will screen a short Youtube video about Mitosis, while watching the clip the students will label the phases of Mitosis on the worksheet. I created a short quiz on Quizlet that, prior to taking the student can review the flashcards, the students will take. Afterwords we will review the worksheet and the phases. 

By the end of the week we will have introduced and completed a Webquest!

Keep moving forward!

Today is the day! On Friday I completed the first half of my student teaching experience at OTES. Today I have begun the second half of the experience in Mrs. Townsend's sixth grade class; a big jump, but I am excited all the same to work with an older group.

They are working with cells right now and will be working their way to organ systems and disease! I look forward to getting right into the science activities.