CELL DIVISION FOR THE DRAMATIC AND THE MUSICAL

The sixth grade honors science class diligently made mind-numbing cell biology look like actual FUN when I stopped by to see what was happening inside one of our middle school science labs.

The students were divided into groups and they were using props to demonstrate the process of meiosis (aka cell reproduction.)  The teacher (Mrs. Kellena Smith) shared that students were having trouble conceptualizing meiosis as a process in constant motion.  To remedy this, she came up with all sorts of clever props, setting the stage for some memorable cell drama.

Large white card-stock circles served as original cells, the stages upon which all sorts of exciting reproductive phases took place.

This may look like yellow yarn to you, but it is nuclear membrane to Mackenzie!  Tidy girl that she is, she could not stand for her nuclear membrane to be disorganized so she shaped it carefully while it waited for its moment on the stage.

The markers here are playing the role of cell centrioles. The gray yarn holding the marker hostage represents spindle fibers. 

Cytokinesis happening above! Do you see those cells dividing?

I wish to note - there WERE boys in this fabulous class as well! Due to photographic issues beyond my control (and a severe case of hamming beyond their control) none of those photos made the cut!

All sorts of things were happening around me.  Nuclear membranes were breaking down and students were narrating the process as they moved their props across the cell.  Some were quite dramatic in the telling of the tale.  



The shiny laminated chromosomes were awesome, outfitted with handy Velcro tabs for easy attachment to other chromosomes.  Have I mentioned our teachers are awesome?

I must admit, the best part of my observation occurred when I heard the musical stylings of Laura Frederick magnificently singing a snappy tune while her cells were splitting.  

The science of cells at its very best!