The author provides sample assignments for each content area. Choose 5 assignment you feel you might implement in your classroom. Then answer the following questions:
1. Why did you choose this assignment?
2. How might you tailor this assignment for your teaching style or content area?
1. (#83). With each student playing the role of a cell part, have students set up and perform a role-play simulation of cells.
ReplyDeletea. I chose this assignment because the main thing is it gets many students involved in project. Also it might be easier for students to relate to the cell parts, and how they work when they are able to act the part out.
b. I was really big when I was younger on hands on learning. I believe that I remembered more things from classes that taught units when hands-on training was a key strategy. So I believe this assignment fits me perfectly because it is hands-on.
2. (#84). Divide your class into groups, and ask each group to create an environment for an imaginary organism using discarded items from the environment. By asking questions, each group will try and learn about other groups “mystery” organism.
a. I chose this assignment because it shows the imagination powers of your students. So many classes now have such strict guidelines and ways of doing things; I think that using your imagination has kind of been pushed aside. This assignment brings that back. Also, I think a teacher can learn a lot about their students from what there “mystery” organism is.
b. I think I could take this assignment and tailor it to my teaching style by having students use more of their imagination for other assignments, projects, papers. A student’s imagination is what will give their work a water mark of their style.
3. (#94). During their study of atomic theory have students read and discuss J. R. Hersey’s Hiroshima (Random House, 1989).
a. I chose this assignment because I think students could really get the idea of how importance atomic theory, atomic weapons, atomic energy, etc are after reading the book. I think students could relate more with the study of atomic theory after reading the book. Atomic topics are always in the news, and I think if the students read the book they would be more aware of when the topic is brought up in the news.
b. I think I could tailor this into my teaching style by having it be a semester project. Something that allows the students time to work on it over the semester, not having to rush to get it done, and give themselves time to actually learn and understand the book rather than rushing through just to get it done.
4. (#95). Ask students to inquire as to whether a nearby zoo, or botanical garden or commercial nursery, has an animal or plant loan program.
ReplyDeletea. I chose this assignment because it is just something I would have never thought of. It really gets the students involved in the community. If a program exists, it would be an amazing learning experience for the students. It would also give the students more responsibility other than just doing a research paper/assignment.
b. I think I could tailor this assignment to my teaching style by having students do more things concerning the community, rather than just in class. If those types of programs do not exist but students show enough interest, maybe in the future the programs could be formed. Once again I love hands-on assignments and always willing to open different avenues to help students learn.
5. (#85). Have each student, or student pair, “adopt” a chemical element. The student then researches that element and becomes the class expert whenever that particular substance comes up in discussion. There could be a special bulletin board for putting up questions on interesting or little-known facts about the element.
a. I really like this assignment because it gets the whole class involved. Also, it pushes the students to be more responsible to learn their element because they will be called upon often. The title expert might help the students feel special or more important in class, which in turn could keep them more involved in class.
b. I could tailor this idea in my teaching style by putting more responsibility on the students, and not just for one day but throughout the semester by being an “expert” at some type of item or skill.