In the Classroom: Science
If you were to walk through our science labs this week, you would have found 9th grade students exploring cell transport and plasma membranes in their biology classes. Part of their lesson included a hands-on activity in which students created their own models of the different cell types out of modeling clay. While students had a blast building their models, the activity also played an important role in deepening their understanding of the content and strengthening memory recall.
In 2015, University of Chicago Professor Sian Beilock co-authored a study published in Psychological Science based on research which showed that physically experiencing scientific concepts helps students understand them more deeply and perform better on science tests. In education, the idea of engaging students in kinesthetic learning has been popular, and research like Beilock’s shows that taking time to engage students in activities such as those described above has a positive impact on learning regardless of a learner’s preferred learning style.
The lessons continue in biology when students take their understanding of cell membranes and apply them to osmosis, which is the diffusion of water in particular. They’ll continue to learn by doing by immersing cubes of potato in varying concentrations of solution and observing the mass change of the potato, which would indicate water flowing into or out of the potato. Biology teacher Jared Smith explained, “Osmosis is a hugely important biological concept and is often applied in the field of intravenous infusions in medicine in order to avoid disrupting the salt concentrations of the bloodstream.”
With these types of learning opportunities, our biology students will not have to “study by osmosis” and can keep their books in their backpacks instead of under their pillows.
Brimmer and May School
69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.