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As a new teacher I know that getting to know your students is very important because it gives you a direction to go in when preparing your lessons. Knowing your students can also help you understand how they learn best or what various things could affect their learning. I was wondering what were some good biology ice breakers that could help me learn my students and introduce them to the content.

Hi Jessica, You might want to look at this free chapter called http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9780873552257.2" target="_blank">The First Day There are many ways to start the school year, but icebreakers can be very successful. They help create a comfortable, lively, and active atmosphere students will come to expect and enjoy when they enter. Don't limit yourself to using these types of activities only at the beginning of the year. Use them also to rejuvenate after a long break, after a long, difficult unit has been covered, or before beginning a new unit. Students will understand the reasons for group work, perk up when it comes time to problem solve, and be able to help each other "see" other methods or answers to problems. And, when your students go home after those first days of school, your class will be the one they talk about at the dinner table. This free chapter also includes the Table of Contents and Introduction for this book. For more biology specific ways to introduce biology you might find some ideas here : ) [b] Active Learning Techniques for Biology [/b] http://fpwww.ph.vccs.edu/cl/MTAnpActivities.pdf Let us know if you tried any of these. Does anyone else have ones they have used for biology ice breakers ?

Thanks Arlene. I enjoyed that chapter. I never thought about using icebreakers throughout the year. That's a great idea I'm sure the students would appreciate something fun and out of the norm. Once I try one of these I will be sure to post how it goes! :)

Hi Jessica, There are several discrepant event demos that can be used as icebreakers as well. Are you familiar with Tik Liem's book of discrepant events? He has a whole section on life science (section 4). It can be downloaded off the internet. Just do a google search. Carolyn

These 10-40 minute talks were either newly created for this series (“New Lectures”) or excerpted from existing iBioSeminars (“Lectures from iBioSeminars”). The talks are aimed at a high school or undergraduate audience. The newly created talks give background and explain experiments that helped lead to important scientific discoveries.

The Famous Discoveries section focuses on the process of science, and shows the human side of scientific research. Each discovery includes a video by a scientist describing their personal experience of the events leading to this discovery, a link to the corresponding research paper, as well as a series of multiple-choice and open-ended questions (and suggested answers) designed to encourage critical thinking and data analysis.

I love to start the year in high school Biology with this activity. http://schoolpartnership.wustl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/National-Academies-Inquiry-Lab.pdf Thanks, Shannon

We use this activity. It's great! Thanks for sharing.

no problem. I am new to the NSTA Learning Center, any tips/tricks?

I try a lab introduction as an icebreaker called saving Sam. It gets students started thinking about science inquiry and lets me see what they know about the scientific method. It helps students get to know each other.saving Sam lab

I love ice breakers! I feel that it helps the students so much on getting more comfortable with the classroom and their peers! Here is a PDF on some ice breakers and team building activities!! Enjoy :) http://www.mybookezzz.org/ebook.php?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXJ0YnVyZy5lZHUvb3Jncy9ndWlkZS9pY2VicmVha2Vycy5wZGYKSWNlYnJlYWtlcnMgJmFtcDsgVGVhbWJ1aWxkaW5n