This article discusses and compares two approaches to teaching students about aerobic and anaerobic respiration. One approach was to have students take part in a common cookbook activity where a preset procedure is followed. In the second approach, students completed the same activity, th but in a more inquiry-oriented fashion. Each approach was implemented in two 10 grade classes. Students experiencing the inquiry approach were observed spending more time discussing the targeted concepts, and they performed better on the end-of-unit test. This article addresses National Science Education Standards A, C, and G and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
