Why You Should Stop Using Worksheets for Anatomy and Physiology

April 13, 2022

What’s Wrong with Worksheets for Anatomy and Physiology?

Before you get upset, let me explain. Nothing is “wrong” with giving students worksheets to practice what they have learned. That would be totally unrealistic. I am saying that it should NOT be the norm. Students do not sign up to take anatomy to be subjected to tons of worksheets. They want to get involved and learn by doing hands-on activities. Keep reading for more great ideas to replace worksheets for anatomy and physiology.

What To Do INSTEAD of Worksheets for Anatomy and Physiology

This class is so easy for me to find great hands-on activities to really get students interested in learning about the human body. My goal is to have students actively up and doing something at least 3-4 days a week. I use a variety of strategies to engage my students and most involve them moving around the room.

Stations

My go-to for students engaging with the content is stations. So much goodness happens when students can move around, work with each other, and discuss the material. Stations can be differentiated easily and are a great way to engage them. Each station can touch on a different aspect of the subject I want them to learn. I can make each station different by using images, activities, videos, articles, etc.

Drawings

I am a sucker for butcher paper. I absolutely LOVE using it in my anatomy classes because students can draw large pictures and work with a partner. It’s perfect to use butcher paper for drawing the body regions, respiratory system, and especially the endocrine system for hormones. It’s fun having students draw blown-up versions of these systems because they can get a much better idea of their locations…plus it’s fun!

Ordering

Anytime there is a series of steps involved, I like to do some ordering activities. This works great for the flow of blood through the heart. This would also be great for tracing the pathway of light through the eye, how sound travels through the ear, or how smell travels to the brain. So many ways to use ordering in anatomy.

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