Bring science to life in your classroom with Ward’s Science Engage Cell Cycles kit. This hands-on resource makes teaching and learning about the cell cycle interactive and fun, making this biology kit a teacher choice on We Are Teachers. It combines simplicity and enthusiasm, giving students the opportunity to explore biology concepts through inquiry-based learning.
One of the distinguishing features of Ward’s Science Engage Kit is its commitment to supporting teachers. With free access to professional development and alignment to NGSS standards, these kits give educators everything they need to confidently implement science lessons.
To see how it works in practice, we sent the Engage Cell Cycles kit to high school science teacher Selim Jamil to test it out in his 9th grade biology class. Here’s his review of Teacher Picks and why he wants to use this kit in every science class.
Which grade level is Ward’s Engage Cell Cycles kit suitable for?
9th Grade Biology and Junior/Senior Level AP Biology.
How did you use this kit in your science classroom?
I use the Engage Cell Cycles kit to model and teach my 9th graders how mitosis works in cells. Students can demonstrate their understanding of the process of mitosis and imagine what happens if this process does not work properly.
How will students use this?
Students always ask questions about how to use models properly. But once the model is used properly, ask students to come up with ways the model might not work. That’s when their creativity comes into play. Students come up with situations in which genetic material does not separate or one daughter cell does not acquire complete DNA.
Basically, what they can do is figure out a ton of potential genetic issues before I introduce them to my students. They may not know the name of the genetic problem, but they have figured out the mechanism by which it occurs.
In one word, how do you feel about this science kit?
that’s great! I’m a big fan of lab materials that have a specific purpose but are easy to use in a general lab setting. This is something that can be used in multiple labs.
What did you like most about this kit?
I love that this can be used in a 9th grade lab where the content is relatively simple. Additionally, it can be used for more complex and advanced biology lessons. Students can use this model to understand not only relatively simple phenomena such as mitosis, but also highly complex phenomena such as mitosis, mutation, and genetic recombination. I also like the versatility of this model. You can use it to demonstrate processes in plant and animal cells. Additionally, I can use the models in specific assignments that come with the study materials, or to suit my or my students’ imaginations.
What makes this product special compared to others?
I don’t like “ordinary” laboratories. Many laboratories have a set method that they must use. Following steps 1-17 will display the correct answers that students should be able to provide to demonstrate their learning.
This model does not require students to arrive at the correct answer. Once I demonstrate how to use it, they can imagine different scenarios in which it would work. Some may be right. Some may be wrong. But if they can imagine how chromosomes divide and articulate it, they are engaged in scientific inquiry.
Until schools decide to allow students to spend $3,000 on genetic engineering experiment kits, this is the closest students will come to meaningfully demonstrating their understanding of the principles of genetic reproduction. This is actually more valuable than a genetic engineering experiment kit. This is because students can directly visualize what is happening inside the nucleus.
How have biology kits made teaching easier?
Typically, when teaching the process of mitosis, we simply show a video of chromosomes moving along the nuclear envelope. That’s all well and good, but it also allows students to become more actively involved in trying to understand this phenomenon. Rather than passively watching something happen, they actively look for ways for it to happen and explain what they think is happening.
This model allows students to experiment with different mechanisms of gene reproduction and division in ways that would never be possible to observe it happening.
What else would you like to know about Ward’s Science Engage Cell Cycles Kit?
I’m not a fan of prefab labs in general. I don’t like the idea that science has a fixed conclusion. This model allows for scientific exploration and is ideal for young scientists. There are no immediately obvious rules other than what logic dictates. Students can engage in a type of playful exploration that is enlightening as they begin to understand the principles explored in class. This is a great addition to my classroom and will serve me well for the rest of my teaching career.
Check out Selim’s video review.
Teacher Picks is a sponsored program brought to you by We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in reviews are honest and based on teachers’ direct experience. Click here to learn more about our guidelines and review process.
