Cellular Respiration Lesson Plan: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Grade Levels: 9-12

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Cellular Respiration, and supports the standard of using a model to illustrate the chemical process of cellular respiration. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Ask students:

  • What does your body need to survive? 
  • What do you think happens in the body when you breathe?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the Cellular Respiration topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Have students read one of the Related Reading articles. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Students take the Cellular Respiration Challenge and Quiz, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about cellular respiration 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: Produce a tutorial about cellular respiration that explains how ATP molecules affect cells.
  • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying the process of aerobic respiration.
  • Creative Coding: Code a learning game challenging players to sort molecules  and processes as aerobic or anaerobic respiration.

More to Explore 

Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of organisms, structures, and processes with these topics: Cells, Respiratory System, Cell Structures, and Metabolism.

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    Filed as:  9-12, BrainPOP, Cellular Life and Genetics, Cellular Respiration, Lesson Plan, Science, Teacher Resources