Watching Our Micro-Cells

Each year our school is required per No Child Left Behind to test our students in math, reading, and science. The past three years, students have meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in math and reading. However, we continue to struggle in science. Our principal has challenged the fifth grade teachers to develop lessons which will enrich students' scientific awareness and give them the knowledge to meet AYP. One idea I have is to give them more active lessons. One idea is to allow students the use of science lab equipment for inquiry learning lessons. Using microscopes in class will allow students to become exposed to laboratory equipment used during scientific experiments. Our unit is divided into parts: Observing plant and animal cells and genetics. By using microscopes, student will be able to actually see the cells from plants and animals, instead of just looking at them in their textbooks. This in turn will lead students into the genetics portion of our unit. Since genetics is a difficult concept to grasp for 5th grade students, the use of microscopes for observation will allow the student to connect the material to their personal experiences with the microscope observation. One of my jobs is to prepare my students for middle school. Since 6th grade life science classes use this type of lab equipment, it would be tremendous for my students to walk into class with microscope experience.