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

Which cell parts are in plant cells, animal cells or both?

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-1CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-2England: KS3 Biology: Cells and organisation

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Which cell parts are in plant cells, animal cells or both?.

  • 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 strengthens and supports a plant cell? (cell membrane / cell wall / nucleus / chloroplasts) → cell wallPrompt: Think about which parts are only in plant cells.
  2. Cells: which statement is NOT true? (Animal cells have a cell wall. / Both plant and animal cells have a nucleus, cytoplasm and a cell membrane. / Plant cells have a cell wall but animal cells do not. / Most plant cells have a large permanent vacuole.) → Animal cells have a cell wall.Prompt: Do plant cells respire?
  3. Which part of a cell is where aerobic respiration happens? (mitochondria / cell membrane / cell wall / nucleus) → mitochondriaPrompt: 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: Which cell parts are in plant cells, animal cells or both?. 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: cell membrane?
  • Step 1: Nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria and ribosomes are in both.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: both plant and animal cells
  • Answer: both plant and animal cells
  • 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: ribosomes? (plant cells only / both plant and animal cells) → both plant and animal cellsPrompt: Plant cells have everything animal cells have, plus some extras.
  2. Onion skin cells are from a plant, but they have no chloroplasts. Why? (Onions are not living things / The onion bulb grows underground, away from light / Chloroplasts are only found in flowers / Onion cells are animal cells) → The onion bulb grows underground, away from lightPrompt: Do all plant cells photosynthesise?

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. A cell sample has a nucleus, cell membrane and mitochondria, but no cell wall. It is most likely from… (a leaf / a moss plant / an onion skin / an animal, such as a cheek swab) → an animal, such as a cheek swabPrompt: Which type of cell never has a cell wall?
  2. Plant and animal cells: which statement is NOT true? (Both plant and animal cells have mitochondria. / Animal cells have small chloroplasts. / A cell wall is made of cellulose in plants. / Not every plant cell has chloroplasts.) → Animal cells have small chloroplasts.Prompt: Do plants respire as well as photosynthesise?

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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Which cell parts are in plant cells, animal cells or both?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Plant and animal cells: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Not every plant cell has chloroplasts.
    • B. Both plant and animal cells have mitochondria.
    • C. Plant cells have a cell wall instead of a cell membrane.
    • D. Animal cells have a cell membrane but no cell wall.

  2. Question 2

    Under a microscope, cells have regular box shapes, green discs and a large central space. They come from…

    • A. a frog's skin
    • B. a leaf
    • C. a cheek swab
    • D. human blood

  3. Question 3

    Where is this found: cell wall?

    • A. plant cells only
    • B. both plant and animal cells

  4. Question 4

    Onion skin cells are from a plant, but they have no chloroplasts. Why?

    • A. Chloroplasts are only found in flowers
    • B. Onion cells are animal cells
    • C. The onion bulb grows underground, away from light
    • D. Onions are not living things

  5. Question 5

    Where is this found: permanent vacuole?

    • A. plant cells only
    • B. both plant and animal cells

  6. Question 6

    Where is this found: chloroplasts?

    • A. plant cells only
    • B. both plant and animal cells

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Answer key: Which cell parts are in plant cells, animal cells or both?

  1. 1. C. Plant cells have a cell wall instead of a cell membrane.

  2. 2. B. a leaf

  3. 3. A. plant cells only

  4. 4. C. The onion bulb grows underground, away from light

  5. 5. A. plant cells only

  6. 6. A. plant cells only