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Science lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 30 minutes

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-2England: GCSE Combined Science: Cell biology

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

  • 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: Match cell parts to the jobs they do

Leads to: Selective breeding, genetic engineering and gene editing

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 (Match cell parts to the jobs they do). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which part of a cell matches this description: where aerobic respiration releases energy from glucose? (cell wall / cell membrane / cytoplasm / mitochondria) → mitochondriaPrompt: Think about which part controls, which part makes energy available and which part lets things in and out.
  2. What does the cytoplasm do? (controls what the cell does / a thin, flexible layer around the cytoplasm / a rigid layer of cellulose that strengthens the cell / jelly-like liquid where most chemical reactions take place) → jelly-like liquid where most chemical reactions take placePrompt: Match the name to its job, not to where it is.
  3. Cells in a carrot root are not green. Which part do they lack? (chloroplasts / mitochondria / cell wall / nucleus) → chloroplastsPrompt: Roots grow in the dark soil.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
  • Share the objective: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. 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: Where is this found: a single loop of DNA not in a nucleus?
  • Step 1: Prokaryotes (bacteria) have no nucleus: their DNA is a single loop, often with extra rings called plasmids.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: prokaryotic cells only
  • Answer: prokaryotic cells only
  • 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. Where is this found: a single loop of DNA not in a nucleus? (prokaryotic cells only / eukaryotic cells only / both types of cell) → prokaryotic cells onlyPrompt: “Pro-karyote” means “before nucleus”.
  2. Why can antibiotics kill bacteria without harming human cells? (Human cells have no ribosomes / They target structures or processes that only bacterial cells have / Antibiotics only work outside the body / Bacteria have a nucleus that absorbs the drug) → They target structures or processes that only bacterial cells havePrompt: Bacterial cell walls and ribosomes differ from ours.

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. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes: which statement is NOT true? (Bacteria have mitochondria. / Bacterial cells are much smaller than most animal and plant cells. / Some bacteria have a flagellum to move. / Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have ribosomes.) → Bacteria have mitochondria.Prompt: Do bacteria have mitochondria?
  2. Scientists put a human insulin gene into bacteria. Which bacterial structure is used to carry the gene? (a chloroplast / a mitochondrion / the nucleus / a plasmid) → a plasmidPrompt: Bacteria have small extra rings of DNA.

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: Match cell parts to the jobs they do.
  • 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

  • Move on to: Selective breeding, genetic engineering and gene editing.
  • 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-9.

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

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Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Scientists put a human insulin gene into bacteria. Which bacterial structure is used to carry the gene?

    • A. the nucleus
    • B. a chloroplast
    • C. a plasmid
    • D. a mitochondrion

  2. Question 2

    Where is this found: a nucleus?

    • A. prokaryotic cells only
    • B. eukaryotic cells only
    • C. both types of cell

  3. Question 3

    Prokaryotes and eukaryotes: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Bacterial cells are much smaller than most animal and plant cells.
    • B. Some bacteria have a flagellum to move.
    • C. Plant cells are prokaryotic.
    • D. Eukaryotic cells keep their DNA inside a nucleus.

  4. Question 4

    Which organism is made of prokaryotic cells?

    • A. yeast
    • B. an amoeba
    • C. E. coli bacteria
    • D. a mushroom

  5. Question 5

    Where is this found: cytoplasm?

    • A. prokaryotic cells only
    • B. eukaryotic cells only
    • C. both types of cell

  6. Question 6

    Why can antibiotics kill bacteria without harming human cells?

    • A. They target structures or processes that only bacterial cells have
    • B. Bacteria have a nucleus that absorbs the drug
    • C. Human cells have no ribosomes
    • D. Antibiotics only work outside the body

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Answer key: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

  1. 1. C. a plasmid

  2. 2. B. eukaryotic cells only

  3. 3. C. Plant cells are prokaryotic.

  4. 4. C. E. coli bacteria

  5. 5. C. both types of cell

  6. 6. A. They target structures or processes that only bacterial cells have