Cranial Creations: Teacher Notes
Chuck Downing
"The Whole Cell Catalogue"
This is a fun assignment which allows the kids creative
latitude while demanding scientific accuracy. I normally assign this at the end of the first
day of my cell unit and have the catalogue during the week when
the final unit test on cells will be given.
- Allow one day for group formation and initial in
class research.
- Allow a portion of at least one other day for group
research and consultation.
- Set a rough draft due date for about 2 or
3 days before the final catalogue is due.
- On the final draft due date, allow a significant
amount of time to put the "finishing touches" on the
catalogue and bind it for submission to you. Finishing touches
might include page numbers, if someone ran over the one page limit
implied.
- I recommend one staple in the final draft for ease
of grading.
- I assign 30 points per page. Each student gets
 for his/her page plus an additional amount
based on the entire catalogue. For this group grade, I simple
average the scores for each page and add that to the individual
score, so this is a 60 point assignment. To give you some perspective
on this value, I will run about 2000 points per semester in my
classes. Tests are usually 100-150 points.
- I divide the 30 single-page points into three 10-point
sub-units. 10 pts for the accuracy (I am merciless here.); 10
pts for the neatness and following of directions; 10 pts for
the creativity.
- Once you start the process, the groups tend so
self-police each member. The rough draft date is essential to
allow peer pressure to work in its finest form and encourage any
stragglers to get with it.
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