Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Cell Division

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this step is to provide clear guidance on the main and secondary objectives of the lesson so that students can understand what is expected of them. It also establishes a focus for the teacher, ensuring that all important points are addressed during the lesson.

Main Objectives

1. Understand how the process of cell division occurs, including the phases of mitosis and meiosis.

2. Differentiate between meiosis and mitosis, recognizing the main characteristics of each of these processes.

3. Identify the stages of the cell cycle and how they relate to cell division.

Side Objectives

1. Apply concepts of cell division in modern contexts, such as biotechnology and medicine.
2. Encourage critical thinking and data analysis when observing biological processes.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this step is to activate students' prior knowledge on the topic, fostering curiosity and engagement from the start of the lesson. By searching for and sharing interesting facts, students begin to personally connect with the content, preparing for an initial discussion that will solidify their understanding of the fundamental concepts of cell division.

Warming Up

Cell division is a fundamental process for life, essential for the growth, development, and repair of organisms. There are two main types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis, each with its specificities and importance. To start the lesson, ask students to use their phones to find an interesting fact about cell division, whether about mitosis or meiosis, and share it with the class. Encourage research from reliable sources, such as scientific journals and websites of renowned institutions.

Initial Reflections

1. What is cell division and why is it important for living organisms?

2. What are the main differences between mitosis and meiosis?

3. What are the stages of the cell cycle and how do they relate to cell division?

4. How is cell division related to the growth and development of organisms?

5. Can you cite an example of how cell division is applied in biotechnology or medicine?

Development

Duration: 70 - 75 minutes

The purpose of this step is to provide practical and interactive activities that consolidate the theoretically studied content, stimulating creativity, collaboration, and the use of digital technologies for more engaging and meaningful learning.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Mitosis vs Meiosis: The Social Media Battle

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Use social media to reinterpret scientific content in an engaging way, reinforcing concepts through the creation of didactic and interactive material.

- Description: Students will create fictional profiles for 'Mitosis' and 'Meiosis' on social media (Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok). Each group must post content highlighting the characteristics, differences, and importance of each type of cell division. They should use hashtags, create short videos, stories, and interactions that help explain the cell cycle in a fun and informative way.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group must choose a social media platform to create their fictional profiles.

• Students must create at least 5 posts that explain the phases and characteristics of mitosis or meiosis.

• Include hashtags related to the topic, such as #CellDivision, #Mitosis, #Meiosis, #FunScience.

• Groups can also follow and comment on each other’s posts, encouraging richer interaction.

• At the end, each group presents their profile to the class, explaining their content choices and interactions.

Activity 2 - Digital Game: The Cell Cycle

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Promote content review in a gamified way, encouraging collaboration and healthy competition while reinforcing learned concepts.

- Description: Students will create an interactive online quiz on the topics covered (mitosis, meiosis, cell cycle). Using platforms like Kahoot! or Quizizz, groups will develop questions that encompass different aspects of cell divisions and the cell cycle. After creation, the quizzes will be played among the groups, promoting healthy competition and reinforcing knowledge.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group must access an online quiz platform (like Kahoot! or Quizizz).

• Students will create a quiz with at least 15 questions about mitosis, meiosis, and the cell cycle.

• Include multiple-choice questions, true or false, and descriptive questions to cover all aspects of the topic.

• After creation, share the quizzes with the entire class so everyone can play.

• Each group must play the quizzes of the other groups and try to achieve the highest score possible.

• At the end, a discussion will be moderated to review the most challenging questions and clarify any doubts.

Activity 3 - Scientific Influencers: Explaining Cell Division

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop scientific communication skills through the creation of educational videos, using storytelling techniques and video editing to make content more engaging and accessible.

- Description: Students will create a short video as a 'digital influencer' where one group member portrays a famous scientist (real or fictional) explaining the phases of mitosis and meiosis in a creative way. These videos can be edited and shared on a YouTube channel or another video platform.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group must choose a famous scientist (real or fictional) to be their influencer.

• Create a script where the influencer presents and explains the phases of mitosis and meiosis.

• Record the video using cell phones and, if possible, edit to add effects and make it more dynamic.

• The videos should be between 3 and 5 minutes long.

• Publish the videos on a YouTube channel or on a sharing platform accessible to students.

• Each group must watch the videos of the other groups and provide constructive feedback.

Feedback

Duration: 20 - 25 minutes

The purpose of this step is to consolidate learning and promote critical reflection on the activities carried out. Allowing students to discuss their experiences and receive constructive feedback from their peers reinforces cell division concepts and develops important interpersonal skills such as communication and cooperation.

Group Discussion

Promote a group discussion gathering all students. Start by asking each group to share their experiences while carrying out the activities. Use the following script to introduce the discussion:

1. Start with a General Question: 'What were the biggest challenges and learnings when creating digital content about mitosis and meiosis?'
2. Ask for Specific Details: 'Could you share an example of a post or video you created that you found particularly effective in explaining the cell cycle?'
3. Discuss the Differences: 'What are the main differences you observed between mitosis and meiosis while preparing your materials?'

Reflections

1. How did the use of social media help to better understand the concepts of cell division? 2. In what way did the creation of quizzes and videos contribute to the retention of content about mitosis and meiosis? 3. What did you learn from the feedback from peers about the content you produced?

360° Feedback

Conduct a 360° feedback session where each student should receive feedback from other members of the group they worked with. Instruct them to provide constructive and respectful feedback. Start by explaining the importance of feedback for personal and professional development. Suggest that students use phrases like 'I liked...' and 'I think it could be better if...' to guide comments.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this step is to synthesize learning in a playful and contextualized manner, reinforcing the connection between scientific content and the dynamics of the modern world. By summarizing the concepts and discussing their practical applications, students consolidate their knowledge and understand the importance of what has been learned.

Summary

To wrap up with a bang , let's review the main points about cell division in a fun way! Imagine that mitosis is a photocopier, producing two identical daughter cells to the mother cell, while meiosis is an art school , creating four unique and distinct daughter cells. In the cell cycle, we have the phases G1, S, and G2 prepared for the big show of division, whether it is the meticulous routine of mitosis or the creative diversity of meiosis!

World Connection

Today's lesson connects with the current world by using social media and other digital platforms that are part of students' daily lives. Transforming scientific concepts into content for Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube not only makes learning more engaging but also shows how biology can be relevant and integrated into modern life.

Practical Application

Understanding cell division is crucial not only for school assessments but also for comprehending biotechnological and medical processes, such as tissue regeneration and assisted reproduction. This empowers us to also understand diseases like cancer, where cell division is uncontrolled.