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Meghan Chatfield
The Way Life Works
Lesson Plan Basic Cell Introduction
Fifth Grade
The object of the Basic Cell Lesson is to inform the students about the
different parts of the cell and basic functions cells perform. The parts of the cell
being discussed today include: nucleus, DNA, vacuoles, cytoplasm, chloroplast, cell
Wall, mitochondria and membrane. The differences and similarities between animal
and plant cells such as their structures, the size of their components, and the
functions that the cells perform.

Living Systems
5.5
The student will investigate and understand that organisms are made of cells
and have distinguishing characteristics. Key concepts include
a)

basic cell structures and functions;

Subject: Cell Structure

Objectives and Goals:
-

To introduce the inside structure and parts of an animal and plant cell.
For students to be able identify:
o Nucleus
o DNA
o Vacuoles
o Cytoplasm
o Membrane
o Mitocondria
o Cell Wall
o Chloroplast
To introduce the functions of cells such as
o Genetic information
o Controlling the functions of the cell
o Transporting material throughout the cell
o Transferring material in and out of the cell
o Storage and waste dispossal

Anticipatory Set:

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Short verbal introduction of cells, discussing how all living organisms are
composed of cells (including animals and plants) and that cells have different
functions that allows organisms to live.
Ask a few general questions to get students actively engaged in the lesson
about what could be made out of cells.

Direct Instruction:
-

Promethean slide or power point slide (if promethean board is not available)
discussing cell structure and functions.
o Promethean boards are actively spreading to public schools around the
United States and is a great teaching tool. Promethean boards create
fun and interactive instructive lesson presentations; easy use, visually
attractive, interactive activities, and includes help new technological
features. Students are always eager to volunteer to come up and use
the promethean board to answer questions. Many schools now have
afterschool programs to train school teachers how to use this
technology.
Source 1: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/enus/Resources/Item/30448/plant-and-animal-cells#.UFGKelF3FLY (An account
and the promethean computer program is necessary to download these
presentations)
Source 2: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/enus/Resources/Item/26067/cells-genetics-basic#.UFGLGlF3FLY (Try to provide
more detailed pictures; you may also want to combine slides that fall under
the same subject discussions)
Power Point Presentation
Source 1, Slide 23, 3: Animal Cells
o Introduce the idea that there are two different
types of cells; plant cells and animal cells.
o Define a cell clearly
o Locate and name basic parts of a cell on the
diagram provided
Source 2, Slide 2-3: Nucleus
o Discuss where a nucleus is located and how it is the
brain of the cell leading into the discussion of
DNA.
Source 2, Slide 4-7: DNA
o Discuss where DNA is located and how it is the
primary source of genetic information for an
organism.
o Discuss the double-helix structure.
o Relate the discussion to the students and ask them
to go home and see where they got one or
characteristics from.
Ex. Eye color or hair color.

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Source 2, Slide 11, 13, 14: Vacuoles

o Discuss how the water makes up most of the
human body
about 70%
o Discuss the functions of a Vacuole.
water storage
Source 2, Slide 15-16: Cell Membrane
o Discuss the location of the cell membrane
the cells are enclosed by a plasma
membrane
o Discuss the functions and characteristics of the
cells membrane
Cells regulated the transported substances
between the interior and exterior and vice
versa.
Hydrophobic water-hating
Source 2, Slide 17-18: Cytoplasm
o Discuss where cytoplasm is location
All throughout the cell
o Discuss functions
Keeps the shape of the cell and transports
materials throughout the cell
Source 2, Slide 20-21 and Source 1, Slide 30-31: Plant
Cells
o Transition to plant cell; some parts will be similar to
animal cells and some parts will be different.
o Discuss how important cells are to living organisms
(cellular respiration) and how they are microscopic
Source 2, Slide 24-25: Plant vs. Animal
o Plants also have a nucleus, but it may be smaller
o Plants also have vacuoles but are much larger
(could take up to 90% of a cells total volume)
Source 2, Slide 26 and Source 1, Slide 26: Chloroplast
o Animal vs. Plant
o Locate chloroplast
o Pigment
o Function
Brief Touch on photosynthesis
Provides food
Source 2, Slide 20-30 and Source 1, Slide 20: Cell Wall
o Compare bones to cell walls
Plants dont have bones, so they have cell
walls to keep their structure.
Source 1, Slide 27: Mitochondria
o Located in Cytoplasm
o Function of mitochondria

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They release stored energy

Helps the cellular respiration
Also found in animal cells

Topics to cover:
o Nucleus
o DNA
o Vacuoles
o Cytoplasm
o Membrane
o Plant cells
o Animal cells
o Cell
o Chloroplast
o Cell Wall
o Mitochondria

Guided Practice:
-

Interactive promethean slide or white board; having students come up and

label/put components of an atom on a model. (allow students to come up)
o Source 1, Slide 2
Vocabulary Match-up (delete the last question about the shape
of a plant cell)
o Source 1, Slide 7
Compare animal cells and plant cells in a circle diagram

Independent Practice:
-

Have students fill out a vocabulary crossword puzzle individually, which can
be seen in Source 1, Slide 28.
o Add the attrition terms that were introduced in the lesson

Required Materials and Equipment:

-

Promethean board
Computer
Promethean software
White board (if promethean board is not available)
Paper
Pencils

Assessment and Follow-Up:

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-

At the end of this section they will have a big project to create a model of a
plant cell themselves. (Ex. A bar of soap with different labeled bouncy balls
inside).
o I did this when I was in elementary school

http://k6educators.about.com/od/lessonplanheadquarters/a/lptemplate.htm

The introductory lesson above has the objective of giving the students a better
understanding of the cell structure. The cell lesson includes the three major types
of learning; auditory (interactive lecture), visual (promethean slide and crossword
puzzle), and kinesthetic (interactive promethean board components and homework
project). This lesson directly correlates with the expectations of students
knowledge in the Fifth grade Matter SOL section A, which states The student will
investigate and understand that organisms are made of cells and have
distinguishing characteristics. Key concepts include; basic cell structures and
functions. My higher level learning will help me in the delivery of this level in
multiple ways to reach the widest audience of different types of learners. Since my
high education has given me fast knowledge on this subject my lesson plan can be
very flexible in the cause of interruption or set-backs. I have a deep understanding
and reasoning of the roll cells play in living organisms, their functions, the breakdrown of their structures, and difference between plant and animals cells. If
students seem to have trouble grasping a concept I have the ability to try to convey
information in an alternative way. Also, in result of my education I can relate basic
scientific facts and information to everyday life, so students can make connections
to a subject instead of settling for a when am I ever going to use this attitude. In
addition, I can also apply basic concepts to fascinating stories or current research to
keep the interest of students in the classroom.