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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes

Specialised cells

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-2CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-2England: KS3 Biology: Cells and organisationEngland: KS4 Combined Science: Cell biology

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Specialised 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: Plant and animal cells

Leads to: Stem cells and their medical uses

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 the cell's activities? (chloroplasts / cell wall / nucleus / mitochondria) → nucleusPrompt: Think about which parts are only in plant cells.
  2. Cells: which statement is NOT true? (All plant cells have chloroplasts. / Plant cells have a cell wall but animal cells do not. / Chloroplasts are found in plant cells, not animal cells. / Most plant cells have a large permanent vacuole.) → All plant cells have chloroplasts.Prompt: Do plant cells respire?
  3. Which part of a cell is made of cellulose? (cell wall / mitochondria / chloroplasts / 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: Specialised 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: Which specialised cell has no nucleus, leaving more room for haemoglobin (hemoglobin)?
  • Step 1: Red blood cells have no nucleus and are full of haemoglobin (hemoglobin) to carry oxygen.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: red blood cell
  • Answer: red blood 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. Which specialised cell is near the top surface of a leaf to absorb light? (root hair cell / palisade cell / red blood cell / sperm cell) → palisade cellPrompt: What job would need this feature?
  2. Why are root hair cells long and thin? (to give a large surface area to absorb water and minerals / to make food from light / to protect the leaf / to carry sugar) → to give a large surface area to absorb water and mineralsPrompt: More surface, more absorption.

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. What does it mean when a cell differentiates? (It becomes specialised for a particular job. / It loses all its DNA. / It dies. / It divides into four cells.) → It becomes specialised for a particular job.Prompt: Stem cells can do this.
  2. Specialised cells: which statement is true? (Red blood cells have no nucleus. / Root hair cells contain lots of chloroplasts. / Sperm cells have no mitochondria. / All cells in the body look the same.) → Red blood cells have no nucleus.Prompt: Match each cell's features to its job.

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

  • Move on to: Stem cells and their medical uses.
  • 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-7.

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

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Specialised cells

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    What do ciliated cells in the airways do?

    • A. carry oxygen in the blood
    • B. absorb food
    • C. make sperm
    • D. move mucus and trapped dirt away from the lungs

  2. Question 2

    Specialised cells: which statement is true?

    • A. Sperm cells have no mitochondria.
    • B. All cells in the body look the same.
    • C. Nerve cells carry electrical impulses.
    • D. Root hair cells contain lots of chloroplasts.

  3. Question 3

    Which specialised cell has branched endings to connect to many cells?

    • A. palisade cell
    • B. sperm cell
    • C. red blood cell
    • D. nerve cell (neurone)

  4. Question 4

    Why do muscle cells contain many mitochondria?

    • A. to release lots of energy for contraction
    • B. to make chlorophyll
    • C. to carry oxygen
    • D. to store water

  5. Question 5

    Which specialised cell is a biconcave disc to carry oxygen?

    • A. nerve cell (neurone)
    • B. red blood cell
    • C. sperm cell
    • D. root hair cell

  6. Question 6

    What does it mean when a cell differentiates?

    • A. It becomes specialised for a particular job.
    • B. It dies.
    • C. It divides into four cells.
    • D. It loses all its DNA.

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Answer key: Specialised cells

  1. 1. D. move mucus and trapped dirt away from the lungs

  2. 2. C. Nerve cells carry electrical impulses.

  3. 3. D. nerve cell (neurone)

  4. 4. A. to release lots of energy for contraction

  5. 5. B. red blood cell

  6. 6. A. It becomes specialised for a particular job.