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