Standard 3: Approaches to Learning

In my 7th grade class, I have a wide range of learning abilities. While teaching Life
Science, I need to differentiate each lesson to truly focus on the needs of each individual. In a
lesson focusing on the differences between plant and animal cells, we read and discussed the
basics of this concept for the auditory, independent, and visual learners. To help students gain a
more in depth understanding of this lesson, I had students work in small groups and use edible
resources to create a plant or animal cell of their own. Students were each given an 8x8 cake
where they had to reconstruct this cell.

Overall, this lesson went exceptionally well! The students maintained interest and were
able to connect each edible source to a portion of the cell. Both summative and formative
assessments were used during this lesson. Students collaborated to help each other remember
new and learned information; when a student could not remember a concept, another student
was able to explain it in terms they understood. As a formative assessment at the end of the
unit, the average student grade was an “A.” This was a 25% increase in overall grade
achievement on this unit compared to year.