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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes

Plant and animal cells

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-1CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-2England: KS3 Biology: Cells and organisationEngland: KS4 Combined Science: Cell biology

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Plant and animal 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: Inherited and environmental characteristics

Leads to: Microscopes and magnification; Specialised cells; DNA, genes and chromosomes

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

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Inherited and environmental characteristics). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: natural eye colour? (inherited (from parents) / environmental (from life)) → inherited (from parents)Prompt: Were you born with it, or did it happen during life?
  2. Why do puppies look like their parents but not exactly the same? (They get a mix of characteristics from both parents. / They copy their parents on purpose. / All dogs are identical. / They eat the same food.) → They get a mix of characteristics from both parents.Prompt: Each parent passes on half of the genes.
  3. Inheritance: which statement is true? (Offspring of plants and animals usually vary from their parents. / The language you speak is inherited. / Children are always exact copies of one parent. / If a parent loses a finger, its babies are born without that finger.) → Offspring of plants and animals usually vary from their parents.Prompt: Which things can be passed on in genes?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
  • Share the objective: Plant and animal cells. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which part of a cell contains the genetic material?
  • Step 1: The nucleus contains genetic material (DNA) and controls the cell.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: nucleus
  • Answer: nucleus
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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 part of a cell absorbs light for photosynthesis? (mitochondria / chloroplasts / cell membrane / cell wall) → chloroplastsPrompt: 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. / Plant cells have a cell wall but animal cells do not. / Animal cells have a cell wall. / Bacterial cells have no nucleus.) → Animal cells have a cell wall.Prompt: Do plant cells respire?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Cells: which statement is NOT true? (Plant cells have a cell wall but animal cells do not. / Bacterial cells have no nucleus. / Only animal cells have mitochondria. / Chloroplasts are found in plant cells, not animal cells.) → Only animal cells have mitochondria.Prompt: Do plant cells respire?
  2. Which part of a cell is a thin layer around the cytoplasm? (mitochondria / nucleus / chloroplasts / cell membrane) → cell membranePrompt: Think about which parts are only in plant cells.

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: Inherited and environmental characteristics.
  • 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: Microscopes and magnification; Specialised cells; DNA, genes and chromosomes.
  • 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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Plant and animal cells

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    This is a plant cell. Which part has the ring around it?

    • A. mitochondria
    • B. nucleus
    • C. cytoplasm
    • D. cell membrane

  2. Question 2

    Cells: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Chloroplasts are found in plant cells, not animal cells.
    • B. Animal cells have a cell wall.
    • C. Bacterial cells have no nucleus.
    • D. Most plant cells have a large permanent vacuole.

  3. Question 3

    Which part of a cell is made of cellulose?

    • A. mitochondria
    • B. cell wall
    • C. cell membrane
    • D. chloroplasts

  4. Question 4

    Which part of a cell releases energy from glucose?

    • A. cell membrane
    • B. nucleus
    • C. chloroplasts
    • D. mitochondria

  5. Question 5

    Which part of a cell is a thin layer around the cytoplasm?

    • A. cell membrane
    • B. nucleus
    • C. cell wall
    • D. mitochondria

  6. Question 6

    This is an animal cell. Which part has the ring around it?

    • A. cytoplasm
    • B. mitochondria
    • C. cell membrane
    • D. nucleus

  7. Question 7

    Which part of a cell controls the cell's activities?

    • A. cell wall
    • B. cell membrane
    • C. nucleus
    • D. chloroplasts

  8. Question 8

    Which part of a cell controls what enters and leaves the cell?

    • A. mitochondria
    • B. cell wall
    • C. cell membrane
    • D. chloroplasts

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Answer key: Plant and animal cells

  1. 1. B. nucleus

  2. 2. B. Animal cells have a cell wall.

  3. 3. B. cell wall

  4. 4. D. mitochondria

  5. 5. A. cell membrane

  6. 6. C. cell membrane

  7. 7. C. nucleus

  8. 8. C. cell membrane