Category: Best Practices

  • Download Free Google Classroom Banner Images

    Download Free Google Classroom Banner Images

    Download free images to use as your classroom head in Google classroom or other LMS.

  • Open Access Biology Chapters with Questions

    Open Access Biology Chapters with Questions

    Check out opensource options for textbooks from CK12 and OpenStax. Includes a link to a set for intro bio where students answer questions in a sidebar.

  • My Remote Toolbox

    My Remote Toolbox

    My school announced that the fall school year will start as remote learning due to wide scale community spread of Covid-19. I would much rather teach and person, but I do understand the concerns of parents, teachers, staff, and other community stakeholders. Note: Many of the activities I created for remote learning I still use…

  • Exploration: An Inquiry Activity on the Dubia Roach

    Exploration: An Inquiry Activity on the Dubia Roach

    A short activity for day one in the science class. Give students a live animal to observe, like a dubia roach. They write observations, questions, and make inferences to share with the class.

  • Phylogenetic Tree – Canines

    Phylogenetic Tree – Canines

    Students examine a phylogenetic tree which has questions for them to discover how the tree is organized.   Students will learn what a node is, and how branches on the tree represent descendants from a common ancestor.

  • Video Lessons Graphic Organizer

    Video Lessons Graphic Organizer

    This lesson introduces students to the idea of watching videos at home, taking notes, and then coming to class with understanding and knowledge to apply to a classroom activity, like a lab or discussion.   Students watch a 4.5 minute TED Ed video and complete a chart on the main ideas and details. 

  • Exit Tickets in the Biology Classroom

    Exit Tickets in the Biology Classroom

    Examples of using exit tickets in the biology classroom. Includes a template for a twitter exit ticket.

  • Science News Articles for Kids

    Science News Articles for Kids

    Are you looking for current science for your students?   This is a list of go-to sources for reliable science news.   

  • Model the Digestive System with Coloring

    Model the Digestive System with Coloring

    The digestive system is a series of organs that work together to break down food into nutrients that the body can use. The digestive system includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Coloring activities can be helpful to give students a chance to model the organ systems.  I short, coloring…