Students complete an animal and plant Venn diagram.
Students examine pictures to determine what kind of organism they are.
Students complete an Elodea lab and an onion and cheek cell lab to visualize the differences between plant and animal cells.
Students complete an Elodea lab and an onion and cheek cell lab to visualize the differences between plant and animal cells.
Students read information using an online tutorial and label a plant cell diagram.
Students complete a Help Wanted Ad for an organelle.
Students revise their animal and plant cell Venn diagram and probe from the beginning of the concept.
Students will read about unique plant cell features such as plant secondary compounds and the central vacuole, and will explore the function of the vacuole through a vegetable lab.
In the previous cycle, students figured out that cells are made of smaller parts, and each of these parts has a specific structure, which allows for a particular function. They developed and used models to show that, as well as the idea that cell structures work together as a system to be able to carry out life processes.
In this cycle, students again use models to compare plant and animal cells, and explore how differences in structure among these two types of cells leads to differences in function. Students conduct investigations using their own cells, as well as common plant cells, in order to view these structural differences under the microscope.
In the next Concept, students will use what they know about cell structure and function, and begin to consider how cells organize into tissues and organs that also work together as a system to help an organism carry out life processes. They will begin to see nested patterns of organization, systems, and structure/function relationships among multicellular organisms.