The Biology Buzz Place
Engaging lesson ideas for busy biology and health teachers.
Welcome to The Biology Buzz Place where you will find many engaging lesson ideas that you can try with your classes. I believe learning science and health courses should be fun, but they should also be ones that students learn from. In my blogs, I try and bring you labs and activities that your students will like and that will reinforce important concepts taught in their notes. While reading, worksheets, and taking notes, are important, they should not make up the majority of a science and health curriculum. 40-50% of these classes should include hands-on-type activities.
I had many students in the past come back and thank me for making science fun, many coming back to tell me they now had careers in biomedical engineering or health field because my class inspired them so much. I want this to be the case for many more students who are now taking a biology or health class. Science class should not be boring because science is exciting! Let's bring that passion to our students!
The lessons I share with you on here are ones that I really like a lot and have tried. Most of the lessons are meant for middle school and high school students, but some can be done with upper elementary students with the help of an adult. As an educator, I also create and sell digital biology and health resources that you will find on here in case you needed material to supplement your classes.
A Little About Myself
In my home life, I have three beautiful children whom I am very proud of, two biological kids and one foster son. I became a foster mom to my foster son when he was eleven, at the time I had no children. It was not in my plans to be a foster parent. I was busy working on my teaching credential while working as a full-time substitute teacher. I was used to free time spent with friends at my leisure and was happy doing my own thing. I was certainly not at a point in my life where I was even remotely thinking of bringing a young kid in my life to care for.
Becoming a full-time teacher at the time was my goal and the main thing on my mind, but when I heard about his story from a co-worker, and how he lost his parents in a fire and he did not have family to take him in, I began to think of being a home for him. I was also told that he was in a foster home he was not happy in and had to walk to school and came to school as late as second period many days.
Something in me just told me I had to become his foster mom. I don't know. Maybe because I remembered a couple who fostered children from my church in my childhood. They were a very nice couple and the kids seemed very happy. They were also on my swim team growing up. Whatever it was, something told me to be his foster parent.
After lots of thought and consideration, I became his foster parent. It was not all rosy. There were tough times, as he had unresolved anger, guilt, and sadness and due to his immense grief. Fortunately, his social worker was able to find him a therapist who he would see once a week. He had a good connection with him. His therapist was A plus in helping him get out of his dark place. He worked with him for five years. Today, he is happily married adult working as a successful restaurant chef and has a sweet son who he is an amazing dad to.
Teacher Tip
If I can leave you with one non-Instructional tip as a teacher, it would be to let your students know that you care about them because you never know what some of them are going through in their personal lives. Some have experienced losses similar to my foster son. They may wear a smile on their face yet have a heavy heart inside. So, yes, be great in how you teach and what you teach but also don't forget to show students that you care about them. While you may not be able to be there for them full-time in their daily lives, you can still impact them a lot by being a daily positive and role model for the time they are with you in your class. Teaching is hard work and what you do matters a lot. You rock!