Westwood science had a great month focusing on building conceptual mental models. In marine biology, students were challenged to make a model of the ocean and its different stratified layers.
Chemistry students used models of atoms to explore and understand the concept of relative masses of atoms and how that allows scientists to count atoms. Meanwhile, next door, biology students designed their own variables to test the rates of cellular transport.
AP biology students were challenged to personify organelles by creating dating profiles for each. The organelles went “speed dating” to see which organelles would work best together. One student commented, “During the AP test, I’m going to be having flashbacks to bad organelle pick-up lines, but I’ll definitely remember all the organelles' functions!” Students then had to draw out cellular processes on desks to illustrate their understandings.
