Shaner's Toolbox

This is a practical formal or informal check-in assessment to see if your students know the difference between genotype and phenotype. Answer key included.

This is a worksheet for subtracting mixed numbers with uncommon denominators with no "borrowing" or regrouping. Answer key provided.

This is a handy worksheet for adding mixed numbers with uncommon denominators. There is regrouping. Answer key provided.

This handy worksheet can also be used as a test or quiz for the use of Punnett squares, genotype, and phenotype. Answer key included.

Here is a handy worksheet for practicing regrouping (borrowing) in decimal subtraction. Answer key provided.

I used this lesson plan the last few years and I have enjoyed the results. It provides for much group work and some moving around, which middle school kids really need. All the NGSS and language standards are there as well as some ELL standards from Oregon. Have fun!

This is the entire week's worth of lessons for the first of two weeks of genetics for middle schoolers. It has NGSS and CCSS standards, worksheets, a quiz, rubrics, a two-day project, accommodations and modifications, etc. I have used these lessons for a number of years and have had great success. Have fun!

This is the second week of a Genetics unit for middle school. It has cooperative learning, a group test, and a survey with conclusions and graphs. Also included are accommodations and modifications. Have fun!

Here is a 10-problem worksheet for adding mixed numbers with regrouping and some reducing. Answer key included.

This is a 2 to 3 day project that asks students to compare and contrast cell organelles with real-life or maybe even a fictional structure. It has accommodations and modifications, a rubric, labels for pasting, and a puzzle. I have used this lesson for years now and have greatly enjoyed posting the results!

This is another mixed numbers worksheet for subtracting mixed numbers with common denominators and regrouping or "borrowing". Answer key provided.

This is a handy lesson on genotype and phenotype. It is the second in a series on middle school genetics (see Genetics - Punnett Squares). It includes a foldable for the notebook, a homework (or in-class) assignment, and some accommodations and modifications for kids with special needs. I have used this lesson for the last few years and have been pleased with the results. For the entire week's unit, see my Genetics Week 1.

Just a wordsearch for a cells unit to take up some time for some of your speed burners who get done with an assignment early.

Here is a 2-3 day lesson on writing a lab procedure. It has a fun activity on day 1, as well as some writing, a simple lab, and peer review of the procedure. I have had lots of fun with this! Use in the midst of your lessons on writing up labs.

This is a great lesson I have used in the past in middle school. You will need access to a greenspace, or acquire some herbs/leaves from the produce or floral section of your local supermarket. You will also need some hand-held magnifying glasses.

This is a fun two-day activity that surveys your entire classes for 7 dominant traits, covers why something is dominant or recessive, and why dominant traits are not the most common. There is a graphing activity for the data sets on the second day. Rubric for the assignment is included.

Here are some problems for practicing converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. Answer key included.

This is a fun 2-day lesson that allows students to express themselves either with a boxing ring announcement or a poster. There are examples to show the kids as well as a rubric for grading. For the entire week's unit, see my Genetics Week 1. Have fun!

This is a very good lesson to get kids talking and writing together about who they are. It allows for some artistic freedom, and self-expression. An example is provided for the modified version that could be also used for use with technology.

This is a great one-day lesson on how Punnett Squares work. It is the first in a series of four lessons for middle school genetics. Students discover for themselves the ins and outs using dominant, recessive, homozygous, and heterozygous vocabulary words. It has some accommodations and modifications for kids with special needs. I have used it with much success over the years. For the entire week's unit, see my Genetics Week 1.