Curriculum Guide
Grade 7 – Science Standard 2.3
Life Science.2.3 - Cells are the smallest unit of life that can function independently and perform all the necessary functions of life.
Related Colorado Department of Education Sample Units:
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It's All About You: From Cells To Organisms (Concepts: Systems, Structure, Function, Interactions, Models, Scale, Cells, Human Body, Organism,
Relationship
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills and Readiness Competencies (District):
1. How is the basic structure of a cell related to its function?
2. How are the components (organelles) of a cell related to the cell’s function?
3. How are various cells unique and what do they have in common with other cells?
Evidence Outcomes (District):
a. Gather, analyze, and interpret data and models on the different types of cells, their
structures, components, and functions.
b. Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation
regarding cell structures, components, and their specific functions.
c. Compare and contrast the basic structures and functions of plant cells, animal cells,
and single-celled organisms.
d. Employ tools to gather, view, analyze, and report results for the scientific
investigations of cells.
Academic Vocabulary (District):
animal cell
cell structure
cell
centriole
cytoplasm
lysosome
mitochondrion
nucleus
organelle
plant cell
plasma membrane
ribosome
rough endoplasmic reticulum
single-celled organism
smooth endoplasmic reticulum
tissue
vacuole
Assessment (District):
1, 2, 6, 7, & 8. Assessments are built into the lessons.
3. Assessment questions are in lesson plan.
4. Lab questions are built into the lesson for assessment. Rubrics are attached in the
lesson to evaluate activity sheets.
5. Use the worksheet for assessment.
6. Different assessment based on what you choose to do. They are built into the
lessons.
9. The finished cookie is the assessment.
Suggested Activities/Strategies (District):
1. Download and use the SMART Notebook Lesson on Cell Structure for students to
learn the names and functions of cell organelles.
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SmartExchange Cell Structure
2. Share My Lesson Plant and Animal Cells: Sign up and then save the lesson to a
hard drive. This is a free site that has multiple lessons on a wide range of topics.
Choose what works for your class. Assessments are typically built into the lessons.
Resources/Technology (District):
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Organelles Game
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Plant Cells Video, Karaoke, and Quiz
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Animal Cells Video and Quiz
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Cells as Building Blocks
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Free Lesson Plans
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Free Clip Art
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2. Share My Lesson Plant and Animal Cell Lesson
3. Students identify the cell as the common unit of life in all organisms, learn how
single celled organisms carry out different life functions, explore how cells divide during
the process of mitosis, learn how cell specialization occurs in embryos, compare the
structure and function of different specialized cells, and identify the location of
specialized cells in the body.
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3. Cellular Structure and Function Lesson
4. Cell Structure and Function Lab: Students draw and label cell organelles observed
under a light microscope. They identify similarities and differences of prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells, then identify similarities and differences between plant and animal
cells.
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4. Cell Structure and Function Lab
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4. Cell Structure and Function Activities
5. Virtual Tour of a Cell: Students engage in a virtual tour and complete an affiliated
worksheet.
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5. Virtual Tour of a Cell
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5. Inside a Cell Worksheet
6. Cell Structure and Function Lesson Plan: This resource contains multiple ideas for
warm-ups, journal entries, and web activities on cell structures and functions.
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6. Cell Structure and Function Activities
7. The Cell Lesson: This series of lessons was designed to meet the needs of gifted
children for extension beyond the standard curriculum with the greatest ease of use for
the educator. (Identified for Grade 5, but it is a well-developed lesson that can be
modified for use in Grade 7.)
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7. The Cell Lesson
8. Animal Cell Unit: Students differentiate the characteristics of animal and plant cells,
identify and name at least six organelles in the cell, match the function to the organelle
on a cell model, and build a three-dimensional model of a plant or animal cell.
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8. Animal Cell Unit
9. Cell Cookie Lesson Plan: Students construct a cookie that looks like a cell.
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9. Cell Cookie Lesson Plan
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Free PowerPoints
Free Interactive Games
Free I-pad Apps
Protein Science
Cell PowerPoint download
Cellular Lesson Plans
Cell Organelles Crossword Puzzle