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An Introduction Activity for Teaching Natural Selection

An Introduction Activity for Teaching Natural Selection

Are you a Biology teacher that’s gearing up to teach natural selection? Allow me to introduce you to an engaging introductory activity that I like to call “Feeding Frenzy.” I love this introduction activity because it gets the students up and moving and generates discussions that are the perfect segue

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Celebrate Valentine's Day in Forensics

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Forensics

Valentine’s Day is the perfect way to incorporate some research into your forensics curriculum. To play into the “love” theme, I like to host a LOVE CRIMES SPEED DATING EVENT in my classroom. In a nutshell, students research a famous “love crime” and create a dating profile for one of

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Biology Themed Valentines

Biology Themed Valentines Printables

Want to provide something special for your Biology students this February? I’ve got you covered! I have created 16 FREE biology themed valentines printables that you can print and use as you wish. I like to print them on cardstock and tape a fun treat to the back of the

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Classroom Crockpot Hot Chocolate

About 5 years ago, I started hosting “Starbucks Mode” in my classroom leading up to Christmas break. It’s always a hit with my students and I enjoy whipping up a batch of my famous classroom crockpot hot chocolate and serving my students. As my students enter the classroom, I give

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Simulating Osmosis with Orbeez Water Beads

Simulating Osmosis with Orbeez Water Beads

Introduction Over the years, I have tried numerous “osmosis” labs. I’ve used gummy bears, potatoes, grapes, and eggs to explain tonicity and its applications to cellular processes, but these labs were a little underwhelming. This year, my goal was to create a lab that was not only meaningful to the

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The Best Lab for Teaching Homeostasis

The BEST Lab for Teaching Homeostasis

One of the first lessons that I teach in my Biology course is Characteristics of Living Things. During this lesson, I spend some time focusing on the term homeostasis. In order to provide my students with a visual representation of homeostasis, I always use the Homer-o-stasis lab. My students absolutely

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create an emergency sub binder

Teacher Hack: Create an Emergency Sub Binder

Today, on the blog, I’m sharing one of my favorite teacher hacks and walking you through how to create an emergency sub binder! Note: This post contains affiliate links for Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. By purchasing an item on the Amazon site using these

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The Ticket System: A Game-Changing Classroom Management Strategy

Introduction As a veteran teacher with 16 years of classroom experience, I have tried various strategies to create a positive and well-organized learning environment. Among the many classroom management techniques I’ve implemented, the ticket system has proven to be one of the most effective and enjoyable for both myself and

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How I Created My Classroom Body Farm

How I Set Up A Classroom Body Farm

I am always looking for innovative ways to engage students in my Forensics class. One way I achieved this was by setting up a classroom body farm during my forensic entomology unit. In this blog post, I will share how I set up a classroom body farm and how my

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algor mortis lab

An Algor Mortis Lab Your Students Won’t Forget

My Death Investigation Unit is my all-time favorite topic to teach in my Forensic Science class! It’s filled with interesting content, fun activities, engaging labs, and my students love it just as much as I do. When a fellow forensics teacher, Jason Briski, shared the idea to use a hot

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An Easy and Effective Way to Identify Minutiae Patterns

An Easy and Effective Way to Identify Minutiae Patterns

I love teaching fingerprinting in my Forensics course, but students sometimes struggle when it comes to identifying minutiae patterns. Fingerprints can be difficult to analyze on paper, so I have started using this fingerprint balloon activity to help my students identify minutiae patterns. Essentially, students enlarge their fingerprint on a

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Hosting a Mock Crime Scene in Forensics

Hosting a Mock Crime Scene in Forensics

Hosting a mock crime scene is an exciting way to bring your curriculum to life and engage your students. If you’ve been wanting to execute a mock crime scene in your Forensics classroom, but aren’t sure where to begin, I’ve got you covered! Today, on the blog, I’m sharing my

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Grudgeball: An Engaging Classroom Review Game

Grudgeball: An Engaging Classroom Review Game

It’s no secret that I love a good ole classroom review game. I discovered grudgeball a few years ago and love how engaged my students become when we play. Not only is it easy to set up, but I love that it encourages team work and friendly competition. My students

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Blood Spatter Inquiry Lab

Blood Spatter Inquiry Lab

My students love a good lab and this one doesn’t disappoint. What makes it so great? It’s completely STUDENT directed! Oh…and the students get to stand on the lab stations- which they LOVE. I use this lab as an inquiry lab, meaning that my students conduct the lab BEFORE the

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7 Holiday Activities to use in your Biology Classroom

It’s that time of year (Ho! Ho! Ho!) and I am excited to incorporate some holiday cheer into my classroom. I love decorating my classroom tree and playing soft Christmas music in the background during the month of December. I also love adding fun holiday twists on the topics that

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a fun lab for teaching cellular respiration

A Fun Lab for Teaching Cellular Respiration

I love teaching cellular respiration! One of the main contributors to the love of this topic is the BARF BAG lab. I find it oddly satisfying to watch the students’ expressions when I announce, “Today in the lab, we will be making barf in a bag.” This lab is easy

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how to host a glow day in your classroom

How to host a GLOW DAY in your classroom

I look forward to GLOW DAY every year! For me, it’s the excitement on my students’ faces when they enter my classroom to realize that it has undergone a total transformation! You might be wondering what is GLOW DAY?  It’s a special theme day that radiates through your classroom with

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Cell Membrane Bubble Lab

Prior to teaching cell transport in my Biology class, I like to take a deep dive into the cell membrane, its function, structure, and behavior. I truly feel that an extra few days to establish a strong understanding of the cell membrane helps my students better understand cellular transport. Today

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cell organelle speed dating activity

Cell Organelle Speed Dating Activity

I’ve got a super fun and engaging activity that your students will be talking about long after it’s over! I have been hosting my cell organelles speed dating event for many years and it never fails to fully engage my Biology kiddos. It’s easy to set up, student-directed, and is

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16 Ways to Organize Your Science Classroom

17 Ways to Organize Your Science Classroom

As teachers, we put so much thought and intention into our classrooms. It is our home away from home for us and our students. An organized and well thought out classroom shows your students that you care about them and that you take pride in your job. It also makes

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a fun way to teach lab procedures

A Fun Activity for Teaching Lab Procedures

Today on the blog….a fun activity for teaching lab procedures. Setting the stage for the school year involves teaching procedures and routines. I spend the first two weeks of school teaching my students how my classroom works and this includes discussing lab procedures and expectations. After reviewing basic lab rules,

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Arson Inquiry Lab- A Forensics Activity

Today, on the blog, I am sharing how I execute my Arson Inquiry Lab- A Forensics Activity. A few years ago, arson was my least favorite topic to teach in Forensics. It was dry, boring and difficult to find engaging activities for my students. In a desperate attempt to get

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Teaching Macromolecules in Biology

Can I be honest? Teaching macromolecules could very well be one of the most boring topics in Biology! Well….it was for me….until last year, when I decided to re-vamp my lesson plan to include more engaging activities. Today, on the blog, I am sharing some ideas for Teaching Macromolecules in

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How I Teach Deductive Reasoning in Forensics

Deductive reasoning is an essential academic skill for forensic science students. Activities that help students develop their deductive reasoning can be implemented to complement many areas of the curriculum and are always a lot of fun. As students participate in engaging deductive reasoning activities, they develop foundational knowledge for using logic

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7 Activities To Add To Your Forensic Toxicology Unit

One of my favorite topics to teach in Forensics is toxicology. This topic always fosters deep conversations with my students and they are always engaged in the activities that comprise this unit. Today on the blog, I am sharing 7 activities to add to your Forensic Toxicology unit. If you

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20 Virtual Labs & Activities for Forensic Science

As a new school year approaches, Forensics teachers across the world are scrambling to find virtual labs and activities for their Forensic Science classrooms. In my collaborative Facebook group for Forensic Science teachers, the question “How do we virtually teach such a hands-on course?” comes up in conversation on a

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Amazon Must Haves for Teachers

AMAZON MUST-HAVES FOR TEACHERS

Amazon is my JAM! It’s my go-to for some of my classroom favorites. Check out these 15 Amazon MUST-HAVES for Teachers! Note: This post contains affiliate links for Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. By purchasing an item on the Amazon site using these links, I

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