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1 January 2015 “The Strawberry Caper”: Using Scenario-Based Problem Solving to Integrate Middle School Science Topics
Rebecca L. Gonda, Kyle DeHart, Tia-Lynn Ashman, Alison Slinskey Legg
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Abstract

Achieving a deep understanding of the many topics covered in middle school biology classes is difficult for many students. One way to help students learn these topics is through scenario-based learning, which enhances students' performance. The scenario-based problem-solving module presented here, “The Strawberry Caper,” not only meets but connects ecological and genetic concepts that are required standards in middle school. Here, students are required to provide expert witness for a patent-infringement claim against an organic strawberry farmer by a large neighboring company. The students must think critically and formulate and test hypotheses to provide evidence for the case. Through phenotypic and genotypic analyses, the students are immersed in an inquiry-driven investigation that provides a real-world context for topics covered in the classroom. This, interspersed with integration of concepts, promotes understanding and application of these topics.

©2015 by National Association of Biology Teachers. All rights reserved. Request permission to photocopy or reproduce article content at the University of California Press's Rights and Permissions Web site at www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintinfo.asp .
Rebecca L. Gonda, Kyle DeHart, Tia-Lynn Ashman, and Alison Slinskey Legg "“The Strawberry Caper”: Using Scenario-Based Problem Solving to Integrate Middle School Science Topics," The American Biology Teacher 77(1), 50-54, (1 January 2015). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2015.77.1.7
Published: 1 January 2015
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KEYWORDS
ecology
gel electrophoresis
Genetics
genotype
Inquiry
PCR
phenotype
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