My Favorite New Toy!

I have a confession to make......

......when I use a PowerPoint presentation in my classroom, I love to use a lot of animations.....

Okay, I have said it!

I recently got a feedback from one of my buyers suggesting that I remove all of the animations from my PowerPoint presentations.  He wanted all the items on a slide to be visible at one time.  But I couldn't disagree more!  I only want my students to see what I want them to see at any given point in my lesson.  I do not include a lot of moving parts (as you see here), but I do limit the amount of information the student can see.  As I am teaching, I want the student to focus ONLY on what I am currently teaching.  When it is time to move one, then a few clicks gets the students to the next point in my lesson.  This prevents the student from simply copying from the PowerPoint without listening to the explanation.  If the student can only see one sentence at a time, then that is all they can copy!  I get to determine when they should write more information in their notes.

So, now I am getting to the point of this blog post.  I, too, was a prisoner to my computer.  I like to walk around and pace while I am teaching.  This is hard to do if you have to constantly click from your computer keyboard to get to the next PowerPoint slide.

The solution?  Buy a clicker!  I recently bought the  

"Kensington 33374 Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer" to use with my computer.  It has changed my life!  I cannot say enough good things about this product!  It is so simple to use.  Simply insert the receiver into a USB port on your computer and you are ready to go.  Not only can you click through your PowerPoint with ease, but it also has a laser pointer that can be used to direct your student's attention to a particular part of a slide.  The receiver is inserted at the base of the unit for easy storage.

The cost was around $40, but it may be the best money I have ever spent.

Teaching Classification and Taxonomy = FUN!!

What is this organism?  

What characteristics does it have? To what other organisms is it related? Is it a vertebrate or an invertebrate? What does it eat? What role does it play in the ecosystem?

All biology teachers have particular topics that they really don't like to teach, and topics that we LOVE LOVE to teach. Teaching classification is a topic that I LOVE!

Classification and taxonomy involves problem solving and critical thinking.  Basically a taxonomist is a "living organism detective."

Teaching classification and taxonomy in a biology class can be such a fun unit of study. By incorporating hands-on activities, you can transform textbook concepts into learning experiences that captivate students and deepen their understanding of the diversity of life on Earth. You can bring the world of classification and taxonomy to life by exposing your students to the amazing living organisms around them.

If this is already TL;DR, skip straight to the bottom of the post to see my TPT offerings on classification and taxonomy.

You’ll want to begin your unit by teaching the basics. Before students can get their hands on fun activities, they are going to need to know the basics of the work of Linnaeus, binomial nomenclature, characteristics used to classify living organisms, cladistics, and the 6-kingdom classification system. Once the students have this basic knowledge, the fun can begin.

Click any image to view the resource.

This time-saving PowerPoint and Notes Set will provide the instruction your students need. The images, photos, and graphics are colorful and appealing and will hold your students' attention. It includes notes for the teacher, an outline of notes for students to fill, and both printable and digital options.

After teaching for many years, this I know to be true: Kids love a dichotomous classification key! Dichotomous keys are invaluable in teaching students how to identify and classify organisms. A dichotomous key presents a series of choices that lead the user through a sequence of steps to arrive at the correct identification. The process not only reinforces critical thinking skills but also promotes a deeper understanding of the characteristics that differentiate species.

The following variety of engaging dichotomous keys cover a wide range of organisms. Even when students have mastered how to use a dichotomous key, they will never complain if you give them more. My favorite type of classification key activity involves two parts: Students begin by using a dichotomous key that is included in the activity, followed by students writing their own classification key to identify a given set of organisms. 

Cladograms are another essential tool for teaching classification and taxonomy. These tree-like diagrams illustrate the evolutionary relationships among different species based on shared characteristics. By constructing cladograms, students can visualize how species are related and trace their evolutionary history.

This exercise not only fosters a better understanding of evolutionary biology but also enhances students' ability to analyze and synthesize information.

Task cards are a versatile and interactive way to reinforce key concepts in classification and taxonomy. These cards can be used in a variety of ways, from individual practice to collaborative group activities. Each card presents a specific task or question related to classification, prompting students to apply what they have learned. I prefer to use them in a lab rotation style. Kids love to be up and moving!

Finally, my high school kids love to color! This classification color by number activity is perfect for classwork, homework, or your sub folder.

There are just so many fun things to do when teaching classification. I always have to make myself wrap up the unit and move on to a new topic! By using hands-on activities, you will provide your students with meaningful and memorable learning experiences that will stay with them long after the class is over.

Check out these resources and hands-on activities for your classification unit.

• Classification and Taxonomy Complete Teaching Unit Bundle
• Classification and Taxonomy PowerPoint and Notes Set
• Lab: Classification Using Dichotomous Keys
• Let's Build a Dichotomous Key!
• Let's Build a Cladogram!
• Dichotomous Key for Arthropods and Insects
• Kingdoms of Life Card Sort Game
• Dichotomous Key to the Genus Smiley
• Classification Key Task Cards
• Classification Color by Number Activity

Don't Forget the Fungi!

My favorite biology joke:  What did the pepperoni say to the mushroom on the pizza?


Answer:  You're a Fun-Guy!  

My unit on the fungi is one of my favorite units to teach.  Most of the students in my biology class have never had any instruction about the Kingdom Fungi before they reach my class.  They are amazed to learn that outside of the animal kingdom, the fungi are our closest relatives!  The fungi have some amazing characteristics!  We depend on them as decomposers.  Life might cease to exist on Earth if it were not for the fungi breaking down and decomposing dead organisms and returning the chemical elements they possess to the ecosystem to be used in new organisms.

Click picture.

Simply put, there is more to the fungi than just that green mold that invades our pantries and refrigerators!  I have just posted my new "Fungi PowerPoint with Notes for Teacher and Student" to my TpT store.  This product is a 56 slide PowerPoint on the Fungi.  It is accompanied by a set of notes for the teacher, and a notes outline for the student.  Students will fill in their outline as the lesson is being presented.

Topics covered are:

1.   What are the fungi?

2.   Characteristics of fungi.

3.   Fungi are heterotrophs.

4.   Methods of food getting in the fungi.

5.   What environment do they prefer?

6.   The structure of fungi:  hyphae, mycelium, fruiting bodies, spores, rhizoids, stolons.

7.   Label the structures of a typical bread mold.

8.   Reproduction in fungi:  fragmentation, budding, spores production, asexual, and sexual reproduction.

9.   Kinds of fungi:  The four phyla are named and examples given for each phylum.

10.  Life cycle of the common bread mold.

11.  Phylum Zygomycota

12.  Phylum Ascomycota

13.  Phylum Basidiomycota

14.  Phylum Deuteromycota

15.  The Ecology of the Fungi: saprophytes, parasites, decomposition.

16.  Symbiotic relationships of fungi:  mutualism, commensalism, parasitism.

17.  Lichens and Mycorrhizae

I am also just about finished with a new FREE product on this topic, so stayed tuned for that.  I will add it to the list of freebies at the top left of my blog as soon as possible.

Happy Teaching!