Cells Lesson Plan: From molecules to organisms
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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic, Cells and supports the standard of recognizing the structure and function of cells. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.
Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Tell students that all living things are made up of cells. Ask:
- What are some things you know about cells?
- What do you wonder about cells?
Step 2: BUILD BACKGROUND
- Read aloud the description on the Cells topic page.
- Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding.
- Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “Mythes” “Q & A,” or “In Practice” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.
Step 3: ENGAGE
Students express what they learned about cells while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.
- Make-a-Movie: Make a movie explaining the features that help us tell different cells apart. (Essential Literacy Skill: Summarize key details)
- Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying the components of a cell and their different jobs. (Essential Literacy Skill: Acquire and use domain specific words and phrases)
- Creative Coding: Code a game where players sort features of cells into whether they apply to all cells, or only some cells. (Essential Literacy Skill: Determine central ideas)
- Primary Source Activity: Analyze the image of cells taken by an electron microscope and answer the accompanying questions. (Essential Literacy Skill: Integrate content presented in diverse media)
Step 4: APPLY & ASSESS
Apply: Students take the Cells Challenge, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.
Assess: Wrap up the lesson with the Cells Quiz.
Step 5: EXTEND LEARNING
Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of cells with these topics: Cell Specialization and Cell Structures.
Additional Support Resources:
- Pause Point Overview: Video tutorial showing how BrainPOP Pause Points actively engage students to stop, think, and express ideas.
- Modifications for BrainPOP Tools and Features: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
- BrainPOP Tools and Features Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.