Cells and PicCollage

PicCollage is not just for posting selfies on Instagram.  It is quickly becoming one of my favorite apps for documenting student work in the classroom.  Last year my class was a BYOD (bring your own devices) classroom.  So when we made cell models, most students recorded their work on paper and a few used their own devices.  You can see that here. But this year was different.

This year we have a class set of iPads and most of my students used PicCollage (a free app) to record their work.  After they made their models using cookies and other tasty treats, they took photographs of their work,and then cropped their pictures to remove distractions like: the plate, or the table, or books on the table.  Finally, they labeled their organelles, added a title and that was it. I could quickly see whether or not my students knew which organelles are found in plant cells, animal cells, or both.  I think their models look marvelous!  What do you think?

It's a "Cell-ebration"

  



Thomas diagramed his cell using his tablet.

  



Plant Cell



Today we made incredible, edible cells.  I found a great video on School Tube, "The Cell is Like a City", which compares cell organelles and their functions to the different parts of a city.  The students watched the video at home while completing their graphic organizer for cells.  While making our cells we listened to "Parts of the Cell Rap".  After making their edible cells in class, they drew a diagram and labeled the different organelles.  In the words of Rachael Ray, "Yum-o"!




Animal Cell       



Diagramming Cells the old fashion way