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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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 is a thin layer around the cytoplasm? (cell membrane / chloroplasts / mitochondria / nucleus) → cell membranePrompt: Think about which parts are only in plant cells.
  2. Cells: which statement is NOT true? (Bacterial cells have no nucleus. / Animal cells have a cell wall. / 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 contains the genetic material? (mitochondria / cell membrane / nucleus / cell wall) → nucleusPrompt: Think about which parts are only in plant cells.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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: moss? (unicellular (one cell) / multicellular (many cells)) → multicellular (many cells)Prompt: Can you see it without a microscope?
  2. 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? (It cannot be alive because it is so small / It is a multicellular plant / It is a single-celled organism that carries out all life processes in one cell / It must be a bacterium because it is small) → It is a single-celled organism that carries out all life processes in one cellPrompt: Bacteria do not have a nucleus.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 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: paramecium? (unicellular (one cell) / multicellular (many cells)) → unicellular (one cell)Prompt: Can you see it without a microscope?
  2. Single-celled and many-celled life: which statement is true? (A mushroom is a single cell. / Single-celled organisms cannot move. / Some fungi, such as yeast, are single-celled. / All single-celled organisms are bacteria.) → 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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Why does a multicellular organism need specialised cells?

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

  2. Question 2

    Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: moss?

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

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. Single-celled organisms cannot move.
    • B. Multicellular organisms have cells that are specialised for different jobs.
    • C. All single-celled organisms are bacteria.
    • D. A mushroom is a single cell.

  4. Question 4

    A bread maker adds yeast to dough. What is the yeast?

    • A. a single-celled plant
    • B. a single-celled fungus
    • C. a multicellular animal
    • D. a non-living powder

  5. Question 5

    Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: a jellyfish?

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

  7. Question 7

    Is this organism unicellular or multicellular: paramecium?

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

  8. Question 8

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

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

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Answer key: Single-celled and many-celled organisms

  1. 1. B. Different cells can do different jobs, sharing the work

  2. 2. B. multicellular (many cells)

  3. 3. B. Multicellular organisms have cells that are specialised for different jobs.

  4. 4. B. a single-celled fungus

  5. 5. B. multicellular (many cells)

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

  7. 7. A. unicellular (one cell)

  8. 8. D. by diffusion through its cell membrane