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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Single-celled and many-celled organisms

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-1England: KS3 Biology: Cells and organisation

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Single-celled and many-celled organisms.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Plant and animal cells

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Microscope images or slides, Cell diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Plant and animal cells). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which part of a cell controls what enters and leaves the cell? (chloroplasts / nucleus / cell membrane / cell wall) → cell membranePrompt: Think about which parts are only in plant cells.
  2. Cells: which statement is NOT true? (Chloroplasts are found in plant cells, not animal cells. / Bacterial cells have no nucleus. / Most plant cells have a large permanent vacuole. / Only animal cells have mitochondria.) → Only animal cells have mitochondria.Prompt: Do plant cells respire?
  3. Which part of a cell strengthens and supports a plant cell? (cell wall / mitochondria / cell membrane / nucleus) → cell wallPrompt: Think about which parts are only in plant cells.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
  • Share the objective: Single-celled and many-celled organisms. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: a bacterium?
  • Step 1: A unicellular organism carries out all life processes in one cell.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: unicellular (one cell)
  • Answer: unicellular (one cell)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: a jellyfish? (unicellular (one cell) / multicellular (many cells)) → multicellular (many cells)Prompt: Can you see it without a microscope?
  2. A bread maker adds yeast to dough. What is the yeast? (a multicellular animal / a single-celled plant / a non-living powder / a single-celled fungus) → a single-celled fungusPrompt: Yeast belongs to the same kingdom as mushrooms.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: an earthworm? (unicellular (one cell) / multicellular (many cells)) → multicellular (many cells)Prompt: Can you see it without a microscope?
  2. Single-celled and many-celled life: which statement is true? (All single-celled organisms are bacteria. / A mushroom is a single cell. / Single-celled organisms cannot move. / Some fungi, such as yeast, are single-celled.) → Some fungi, such as yeast, are single-celled.Prompt: Are all microbes bacteria?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Plant and animal cells.
  • Use concrete materials: microscope images or slides.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Single-celled and many-celled organisms

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    An amoeba has no lungs or stomach. How does oxygen get into it?

    • A. it does not need oxygen ever
    • B. by diffusion through its cell membrane
    • C. through its cell wall made of wood
    • D. through tiny lungs

  2. Question 2

    Single-celled and many-celled life: which statement is true?

    • A. All single-celled organisms are bacteria.
    • B. Single-celled organisms cannot move.
    • C. Bacteria are single-celled.
    • D. A mushroom is a single cell.

  3. Question 3

    Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: yeast?

    • A. unicellular (one cell)
    • B. multicellular (many cells)

  4. Question 4

    Why does a multicellular organism need specialised cells?

    • A. Different cells can do different jobs, sharing the work
    • B. It cannot grow otherwise
    • C. All its cells must be identical
    • D. Specialised cells never die

  5. Question 5

    Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: moss?

    • A. unicellular (one cell)
    • B. multicellular (many cells)

  6. Question 6

    Pond water is viewed under a microscope. A tiny organism moves using a whip-like tail and has a nucleus and chloroplasts. What is true?

    • A. It cannot be alive because it is so small
    • B. It must be a bacterium because it is small
    • C. It is a multicellular plant
    • D. It is a single-celled organism that carries out all life processes in one cell

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Answer key: Single-celled and many-celled organisms

  1. 1. B. by diffusion through its cell membrane

  2. 2. C. Bacteria are single-celled.

  3. 3. A. unicellular (one cell)

  4. 4. A. Different cells can do different jobs, sharing the work

  5. 5. B. multicellular (many cells)

  6. 6. D. It is a single-celled organism that carries out all life processes in one cell