Biology on a Budget: Levels of Organization

 Next week, Biology begins with Ecology.  The kids bring in long lists of local organisms to edit as a class.  We’ll use the list to create food webs.  First, we’ll do Levels of Organization.  I just use plastic cups.  I assign kids into groups and give them a stack of cups and ask them to put the levels in order from smallest to largest.  Here are extensive notes; I don’t do a lengthy lecture.  Instead, I refer to the levels of organization as we review different organisms and systems.  The second photo is one of the sets I made with plastic cups.  I bought stacks of cups from the Clearance section at Walmart to use for Levels of Organization. I teach Biology often; it was a worthwhile investment.  Use disposable cups instead.  Tiny, Dixie cups are fine.  I’m getting excited to teach!