Teaching

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Biology

Essential Question - What does it mean to be alive?

Learning Objective - Apply the characteristics of life to determine whether a specimen is considered living.

Standards/Anchors

Standard 3.1.10.A1 - Explain the characteristics of life common to all organisms.
Keystone Anchor BIO.A.1.1 - Explain the characteristics common to all organisms.
NGSS Cross-cutting Concept 1 - Patterns
NGSS Cross-cutting Concept 4 - Systems and System Models
NGSS LS1A - Structure and Function

Reflection: I think what I have currently as an evaluation is truly an elaboration activity. Students are applying their current understanding to new specimens. i think I will adjust this to be an elaboration activity and add a small quiz as a formal evaluation at the end of this sequence of lessons. Other evaluations I can consider during these activities are informal observations I can record on a clipboard and informal feedback provided in real-time.

Characteristics of Life

Engage - Rock/Plant/Bacteria

Students record observations and compare and contrast what they know about these three things.

Explore - What does it mean to be alive?

Based on their observations and prior knowledge, students form a list of the characteristics that define life.

Explain - Characteristics of Life Overview

Students develop a one minute summary of the characteristics of life for a FlipGrid discussion board, based on the in-class discussion and the asynchronous notes video.

Elaborate - FlipGrid Discussion Board

Students communicate their understanding with others and discuss their explanations asynchronously.

Evaluate - Alive or not?

Based on a description, students discuss whether or not given specimens can be considered alive.
The descriptions are intentionally vague to make either argument plausible depending on the evidence you consider.
Students try the activity on their own and then collaboratively come to a consensus.

Visual Study Guide_ Unit 3.pdf

Visual Study Guide Sample

Visual study guides were created during tutoring sessions to help students review material during the session and take home a study tool to review independently. These became a popular staple for tutoring sessions even when not preparing for an exam.

How to do a Punnett Square.pdf

Visual Instructional Plan (VIP)

Visual instructional plans are great for showing students each step of a multistep procedure. They are also great for allowing students to demonstrate their understanding/thinking as they solve a problem.

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