If you’re not familiar with task cards, here’s the quick definition: They are cards that can contain a series of actions or questions that will help students review what they’ve learned. I’m also offering a free download sample of my mitosis task cards that you can try out in the classroom (it’s at the bottom of the post- but be sure to read these easy peasy tips for using them!)
I used them in biology class frequently, but I did not always use them in the same way.
Here are 5 ways you can incorporate task cards into your biology class:
1. As stations for review- Use the entire set of task cards! Put them around the room and have the students go to each task card station and record their answers. I had my students record theirs on an pre-made answer sheet that they could use to help study later. This was always my most popular use in the classroom.
The recording sheet is optional. Though they come with every purchased set, you can always choose to have them number and record their answers on white lined paper to save on your copy budget. The picture above is from my cell organelle task card set.
2. Small group work- Have your students get into partners or groups of 3-4 and do the tasks as a group. You can print the task cards off in various sizes. You may choose to print off 4-6 per sheet and have the kids tackle them in small groups.
3. Bellringers or Exit Tickets- For this purpose, you could print whichever size works best. Some teachers like to hand out small “ticket” size bellringers, or you could always print multiple to a sheet and have them hang on to it for the week. Task cards make wonderful warm up / bellringer or exit tickets. You could easily omit the answer sheet and have them write directly on the task cards. Another option is to give students the answer sheet, and have them use it as a bellringer journal!
4. Extra Help for Struggling Kids- Print them off 6-9 on a page to use as an extra help study packet (I might typically use this option if I was not able to use the task cards as review due to time constraints or just because I tried something new). The sample below is from my cellular respiration task cards.
RECORDING STUDENT ANSWERS CAN HELP STRUGGLING STUDENTS.
5. Assessment- My last practical use for task cards…you can use the task cards as a quiz grade, formative assessment, or as inspiration for your test bank!
So why should you be using task cards in your classroom? You should use task cards in your classroom because they are so versatile. They are a great tool to have in your belt for a variety of reasons!
Do you like the task cards pictured above? Don’t have time to make your own?
Now that you know how to use them and what to do with them, please feel free check out mine! It will save you a ton of time and bring you lots of value. Oh- and they are completely editable. Yup. You can adjust them to your classroom needs. I offer task cards on the following topics:
- Cell Organelles
- Cell Transport
- DNA
- Mitosis
- Genetics
- Evolution
- Classification
- Photosynthesis
- Cellular Respiration
- Ecology
- … You can also get all 10 in a BIOLOGY TASK CARDS BUNDLE.
Wanna try before you buy? Click below to get a free sample of my mitosis task cards!
But, just to show you how amazing task cards can be for student learning, you can get a FREE DOWNLOAD of my mitosis task cards by signing up here:
Now go rock those classrooms with some new tools and task cards!