One of the most innovative activities that I use in my classroom involves the study of isopods. This activity is designed to get students actively involved in biology. It uses a small creature commonly known as a 3Pill Bug2 to get students familiar with the creature, its body characteristics, its behavior, its means of growth, and other features. This activity lasts nine weeks with reports due on certain dates. The reports follow the format that a scientific paper would have.
Students work together as scientific teams.
Laboratory instructions are held to a minimum so the teams are expected to develop and carry out their own ideas as to how some activity is to be done. In many of the activities the team has to decide what needs to be done to meet the requirements of the activity and secondly, carry out whatever procedure they decide upon. I do make suggestions on how to proceed, but it is left up to the teams to request such assistance. This activity is very successful because it involves teamwork and everyone participates. When the teams are developed, paying close attention to team dynamics is essential.