Exploratorium: Mitosis

Objective: Activate prior knowledge about cell division.

Activity:

• Display a short time-lapse video showing mitosis (such as this from HHMI Biointeractive: https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/animal-cell-mitosis).
• Ask students:
  • What do you notice about how the nucleus changes?
  • Have you heard the word "mitosis" before? What does it mean?
  • Why do cells need to divide?

Transition: “Today, we’ll create a flipbook to model the stages of mitosis as it occurs in fruit fly embryos. You’ll use real scientific images to create animations that help visualize how nuclei divide rapidly and in sync during early development.”

Introduction (10 minutes)
Objective: Introduce mitosis and its relevance to Drosophila embryonic development.

Mini-Lesson:

• Use a slideshow to cover briefly:
  • What mitosis is (focus on key phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase).
  • How fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are used in scientific studies.
  • The difference between mitosis with and without cytokinesis (relevant to early embryos).

Explain the goal: Create a flipbook animation to understand and identify the stages of mitosis through motion.

Objective: Demonstrate the flipbook-making process.

Activity:

• Show a completed example of the mitosis flipbook.
• Step through how to:
  • Cut the pages correctly.
  • Order the images sequentially.
  • Add blank pages at the end.
  • Bind using a binder clip.
• Emphasize alignment for smooth flipping.

Have students work with a partner as they construct their flipbook

Objective: Students collaborate to build and use flipbooks.

Instructions:

1. Divide students into small groups (3–4 per group).
2. Distribute printed flipbook pages (download from the Exploratorium site).
3. Provide scissors and binder clips.
4. Students cut out and assemble flipbooks.
5. Once complete, they flip through and discuss:

• • Which stage of mitosis is visible on which pages?
  • What changes do you see from frame to frame?

Teacher Role: Circulate and guide students in identifying mitotic stages.

Objective: Check for understanding and reinforce key concepts.

Formative Assessment:

• Students label at least three frames in their flipbooks with the correct stage of mitosis.
• Exit ticket: "What did you learn about cell division by creating the flipbook? Name one stage and describe what happens during it."

Objective: Extend learning beyond the flipbook.

Options:

• Creative Writing: "Imagine you are a nucleus. Describe what you feel and see during mitosis."
• Research Extension: Have students explore another process visualized through time-lapse and propose a flipbook model (e.g., meiosis, plant cell division).