subject: Tips for Teaching Mitosis [print this page] Tips for Teaching Mitosis Tips for Teaching Mitosis
Mitosis can be a challenging topic to teach, especially if your only educational aids are textbooks and photocopied worksheets. For years, introductory level biology students have been taught to memorize the stages of mitosis, without ever thoroughly understanding the process. Luckily, VIRTmac's DNA/RNA Protein Kit provides biology teachers with engaging lesson ideas that are specially designed to help students understand and retain the difficult concept of cell division.
What is Mitosis?
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus. The result is two cells with identical nuclei. While this may sound like a simple process, biology teachers know that mitosis is actually a complex and highly regulated procedure. The sequence of events is divided into specific phases: the interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Once this cycle has taken place, the cell is ready to separate, which is known as cytokinesis.
Manipulative Models Make Teaching Mitosis Fun
Science students have a better chance of understanding difficult biological concepts when they are actively engaged in interactive activities. Integrating manipulative models into your lesson plan will therefore foster multiple modality learning in your students, encouraging increased participation and enhanced knowledge retention. While there are a handful of mitosis activities documented on the Internet, none provide the same amount of clarity and engagement as the magnetic classroom. Teachers from all across Canada are praising the usefulness of the magnetic classroom; one teacher notes that, "it is so good to have a model that covers so many aspects of cell biology that you can manipulate and develop further." The mitosis magnetic classroom activity is included in Lesson 4 of the DNA/RNA Protein Kit and includes an informative video introduction to the concept.
Using the Manipulative Models to Teach Mitosis
The VIRTmac Mitosis lesson plan is easy and fun to teach. Using the DNA nucleotides provided in the kit, teachers will build two homologous chromosomes. Teachers can then unzip and replicated the chromosomes, using four different enzymes and DNA nucleotides. Students will be able to watch as the duplicated chromosomes become bonded together via a centromere. Teachers are able to manipulate the duplicated chromosomes through each stage of mitosis, including cytokenisis.
Students today are fortunate to have technologies like manipulative models to aid them in their study of complex cell reproduction. The ability to witness mitosis as a process, and not just individual steps, will make a significant impact on your students' understanding and help them grasp the process much quicker than traditional memorization methods.
