7th Grade: Unit 3 Plan

Unit 2: Introduction to Cells

Days: 5
MCA ITEM SPECIFICATIONS
Standard: All living organisms are composed of one or more cells which carry on
the many functions needed to sustain life (7.4.1.2).
(24 points)
Benchmarks
7.4.1.2.1: Recognize that cells carry out life functions, and that these functions are
carried out in a similar way in all organisms, including, animals, plants, fungi, bacteria
and protists.
Item Specifications
Life functions include obtaining and using energy
Items will NOT require students to have specific knowledge about
respiration, such as the Krebs cycle, or equations that describe respiration or
photosynthesis
Items may require students to make comparisons of the life functions of
different organisms
Items assessing this benchmark may also assess benchmarks 7.4.1.2.2 or
7.4.1.2.3
7.4.1.2.2: Recognize that cells repeatedly divide to make more cells for growth and
repair.
Item Specifications
Items may require students to understand how cells are replaced in an
organism and how an organism gets larger
Items will NOT require understanding the specific processes of mitosis and
meiosis, although the term mitosis may be used
Additional vocabulary may include terms such as cell division
Items assessing this benchmark may also assess benchmarks 7.4.1.2.1 or
7.4.1.2.3
7.4.1.2.3: Use the presence of the cell wall and chloroplasts to distinguish between
plant and animal cells. For example: Compare microscopic views of plant cells and
animal cells.
Item Specifications
Items may require students to know that plant and animal cells can be
distinguished by the presence of cell wall and chloroplast but cannot only be
distinguished by the presence of a cell membrane, mitochondria, nucleus or
ribosomes
Items assessing this benchmark may also assess benchmarks 7.4.1.2.1 or
7.4.1.2.2

Essential Questions

What
What
What
What

are cells?
do all cells have in common?
are the two main types of cells?
are the similarities and differences between animal and plant cells?

How do cells carry out life functions?

Essential Understanding

Cell is the basic unit of life. Within cells, many of the basic functions of
organisms are carried out. These basic functions include growth and

repair, obtaining and using energy, and transport of materials

All cells have DNA, membrane, cytoplasm, and organelle
Cells come in many different shapes and sizes and perform a wide variety of
functions
The two main types of cells are eukaryotic and prokaryotic
Organelles in an animal and plant cell, with cell wall and chloroplasts only
found in plants.
The way in which cells function is similar in all living organisms.

Standards
Standard
7.4.1.2.1: All living organisms are composed of one or more cells which carry on the
many functions needed to sustain life.
Benchmark
7.4.1.2.1: Recognize that cells carry out life functions, and that these functions are
carried out in a similar way in all organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, bacteria,
and protists.
7.4.1.2.2: Recognize that cells repeatedly divide to make more cells for growth and
repair.
7.4.1.2.3: Use the presence of the cell wall and chloroplasts to distinguish between
plant and animal cells.

Outcomes SWBAT

Define cells and understand that its the basic unit of life
Understand that cells come in all shapes and sizes and have different
functions
Identify 2 similarities and 2 differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic
cells
Describe the three main types of cells: bacteria (prokaryotic), plant, and
animal cells (eukaryotic).
Describe the function of the eukaryotic cells, both as an animal cell and a
plant cell.
Identify organelles and describe their functions.
Define the purpose of cell division and identify the end product (steps are not
necessary)

Scientific Inquiry Skills

Making observations (microscope)

Use evidence to develop description, explanations, and models (cell analogy
project, what type of cell is it lab)

Conduct simple scientific investigation using the scientific method (cheek cell
lab)

Argue for similarities and differences in cellular structure through

inquiry-based station investigations

Activity
Lab Activity
Introduce the use of microscopesinclude mini lesson on how to use them
and then have students compare and contrast what they see in a plant and
animal cell
Illustrate a wide variety of cells (animal, plant, bacteria, fungi, etc). Activity
where students identify what types of cell they are looking under the
microscope and defend their claim
Cheek cell labtake swabs of
Cell organelle analogy give students a box with different objects in them and
have students work as a group to figure out an analogy for the objects and
present.
Activities
Cell coloring worksheet
Cell organelle worksheet
Eukaryotic versus prokaryotic graphic organizer
Eukaryotic versus prokaryotic reading plus Venn diagram

Access Goals

Presentation of cell organelle analogy project

Group work on microscopes (groups of 3)
Graphic organizer synthesis of information

UNIT ASSESSMENT ALIGNMENT GUIDE

Learni
ng
Goal #

Learning Goal

7.4.1.2.1: Recognize that cells carry

out life functions, and that these
functions are carried out in a similar
way in all organisms, including
animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and
protists.

7.4.1.2.2: Recognize that cells

repeatedly divide to make more
cells for growth and repair.
7.4.1.2.3: Use the presence of the
cell wall and chloroplasts to

Align
ed
Item
#s

10

10
5

Point
s
Corre
ct

Points
Possib
le

Grade
(%)

distinguish between plant and

animal cells.
7.4.1.2.1: All living organisms are
composed of one or more cells
which carry on the many functions
needed to sustain life.

10

TOTAL:

10 Day Plan DAILY OBJECTIVES

Date

T:
11/3/15

W:
11/4/15

T:
11/5/15

Th:
11/6/15

F:
11/6/15

Objective
CO: SWBAT identify 2 similarities and 2
differences between eukaryotic and
prokaryotic cells

LO: SWBAT define cell, eukaryote, and

prokaryote
CO: SWBAT compare and contrast
eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells using
graphic organizers
LO: SWBAT list the 4 similarities all cells
have
CO: SWBAT to understand the microscopic size
of cells, and how they cannot be seen without
scientific tools.
LO: SWBAT use a microscope to look at slides
of various organisms and objects.

CO: SWBAT to recognize and make

analogies of various parts of a cell using a
graphic organizer.
LO: SWBAT to complete of the cell
organelle organizer vocabulary in order to
have functional understandings for Cell City
project.
CO: Review Dayeukaryotes and
prokaryotes, fundamentals of cell theory
LO: Students will complete short weeklysummary quiz to check and track mastery

Learni
ng
Goal
(#):

1, 4

Activity
Venn diagram
Eukaryote vs. Prokaryote article
reading

Extend: Using movable pieces on

graphic organizers to classify eu
and pro characteristics

Make flap books as notes

Lab : Microscope Lab
1, 3, 4
Organelle graphic organizer

1, 4

Review sheet, guided reading

worksheet