Blog Post Week 2

 






1. This week in lab, we learned about living things and their characteristics. After discussing the 8 core characteristics of living things and how to differentiate between living and nonliving things, we started our first activity. To visualize the characteristics of living things, we created an anchor chart in our groups that listed the eight characteristics with an explanation and picture to go along with it. Through this I was able to learn more and refresh my memory on these characteristics. I learned the characteristics are cellular composition, genetics and heredity, maintaining homeostasis, growth and change, movement, responding to stimuli, metabolism, and reproduction. I also learned how to define these characteristics in my own words. I was also able to learn more about the difference between dormant and active by looking at seeds. We germinated seeds so we can watch them grow into seedlings. I also learned about the structure of seeds through our seed dissection activity. I learned that it had structures that show characteristics of life. 

2. I was able to relate what I learned to what I already knew. I am sure I was taught the 8 core characteristics of living things in elementary or middle school but I had forgotten some of the characteristics. Before this lab, I would not have remembered to list genetics and heredity, maintains homeostasis, or metabolism. I am glad I was able to refresh my memory on these concepts. I did remember the other 5 characteristics but I enjoyed having the opportunity to define these on my own to better my understanding. 

4. I can apply what I have learned to my teaching in the future by using some of the same procedures and definitions. I enjoyed making the anchor chart and it deepened my understanding so this is something that I would have my students do in the future. I will also apply what I have learned to teach students and answer questions on the characteristics of living things. I will also use the example of seeds in my teaching to teach students the difference between dormant and active and living things. 















Comments

  1. Matt LorenzJanuary 28, 2023 at 7:37 AM

    Hi Abby, nice blog post. I like your use of photos with the seeds and living things characteristics graphic that your group made. I am with you that I probably learned of the eight characteristics at some point but could not recite them off the top of my head. There are definitely a few that I would have forgotten. I think your thoughts on how you could use this material in your future teaching sound great. The kids would really enjoy getting to see the insides of seeds as we did in class.

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  2. Ali CraigJanuary 29, 2023 at 10:10 PM

    Hi Abby! I also mentioned in my post on how I can see myself using these activities in my classroom. I think this was a great lab to show us how we can use hands-on activities for even the most basic science lessons. I also really appreciated the chance to get to define these terms we hear so frequently in our own words. I

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