What's a Cell Like? Worksheet
I began the unit on cells with an activity that I hoped would allow students to engage with biology on a deep rather than superficial level and provide students an opportunity to practice discussing scientific ideas with their peers. Students experienced cells from three different viewpoints: a personal perspective from observing Elodea plant cells under the microscope in the classroom, an objective scientific perspective on cells presented by Harvard scientists in a video called Inner Life of the Cell, and a subjective perspective on cells presented by Bill Bryson’s in Chapter 3 of his book “A Short History on Nearly Everything.” Students kept track of their thoughts during the cells activity by using the guided worksheet below, developed by my classroom mentor. Students completed each section of the worksheet independently; then, in groups of three or four, discussed their ideas.