the network for middle school math and science teachers
Dissection in Middle School
Views: 424
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Tom Jenkins on -
We still do frogs and worms in our middle school. That being said- it does comsume a large portion of the budget.
I like it because even with the wonderful simulations that are available dissection is a gross, smelly, and almost always a memorable experience. It's truly a teachable moment that inspires many students to learn more about biology.
On a side note- It has also lead to some wonderful debates re: ethical treatment of animals.
-
Permalink Reply by Kim Lightle on -
Hi Amanda - I haven't been in a classroom for quite a few years but I do believe that I would do less dissections than I used to. I'm just not sure that students get out of them what we hope they will although I sure agree with Tom about being a memorable moment! Thought you might be interested in what the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) policy statement says about dissection - http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/animals.aspx.
-
Permalink Reply by Karolee Smiley on
-
We haven't been doing whole animal dissections the last few years. Partially because of the money and also because it doesn't fit as well in our newer state standards. We only study a few body systems now, so our dissections are just "parts".
Since we study valves and the circulatory system, we do an heart dissection. We also study light and the eye. And because we cover bones and muscles, we do a chicken wing (one of my favorites!).
From an ethics point of view, I discuss the source of our dissections. The wings are from the grocery store and I pick up the eyes and heart from the slaughter house. Many of my students are really disconnected from where food comes from, so this becomes an eye opener in more than one way.
-
Permalink Reply by Carl Wilms on -
The high school that my students feed into have asked that we do not conduct dissections as they see that as an integral part of their curriculum. That request, connected to the variability of middle school students' maturity to utilize the experience in a really constructive manner, helped me stop the experience rather easily. I do support students doing dissections as an extra-credit project where they have to submit a formal application (they write a justification of the project and have parents agree to the expense of the project) to conduct a dissection after school hours.
On-line dissections are terrific and they can easily lead students through a "live" procedure. That way, I can serve as a coach.
-
Permalink Reply by Holly on -
This is my 10th year teaching life science and I definitely continue with the dissections. We dissect earthworms, frogs, sheep or cow eyes, and I ask for parents to donate moose hearts during the fall in hunting season. We also have a place a meat packing place that will save pig hearts and lungs. The frogs are the most expensive but I think it is worth the experience for students to have.
-
Permalink Reply by Angela Crawford on -
I do a fish dissection with 6th graders. They love it, I love it. It's marginally related to the content in our life science curriculum (under organs and tissues have a specific structure and function), but I primarily use the dissection to discuss our broad state standard about systems.
-
Permalink Reply by Eileen Bendixsen on
-
I feel that dissection is the best way for students to see the progression from simple to more complex in the animal kingdom. The reason I no longer dissect is because I felt the students were getting less and less out of it. They would spend 15 to 20 minutes on it and then they would be in the garbage. It was too expensive to spend so little time. That said I do find years when I wish I had ordered the materials because I have students who I am sure would benefit. Unfortunately we order in December for the following year and there is no money left once I've met the students.
© 2013 Created by Middle School Portal.
Powered by
