Cell Inquiry: A 5e Learning Cycle Lesson

One dilemma science teachers face every day is balancing the content demands of state and federal testing requirements while providing opportunities for inquiry. Using the 5E learning cycle is a realistic, constructivist way to address this dilemma. The 5E learning cycle leads students through a sequence of learning in which they become engaged in a topic, explore that topic, are given an explanation for their experiences, elaborate on their learning, and are evaluated. This article outlines a 5E learning cycle introducing middle/high school students to the cell.