Connect students directly to the concept in a personal way. Capture students' attention by initiating a group problem-solving activity before delivery of instruction. Begin with a situation that is familiar to students and builds on what they already know. Construct a learning experience that allows diverse and personal student responses. Facilitate the work of cooperative teams of students.

Students bring one living and one nonliving thing

Objective: To have students think about the similarities and differences between living and non-living objects.

Activity: Students are assigned to bring to class one living and one non-living object. (Living objects must be contained in a humane environment and returned to their natural environment no later than the end of the school day.)

Assessment: Quality and diversity of objects brought in. Author's Note: This unit is taught within the first week of school. One incentive to encourage participation is by giving 10 homework points for the living and another 10 points for the non-living objects. An additional 10 points may be earned if the object is unique, that is, no other student in the class brought in the same type of object.