Seventh graders learn the cell theory — the foundational idea that all living things are made of cells — and compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and plant and animal cells, and the organelles that keep them alive.
Students will be able to…
From a towering redwood to a tiny bacterium, every living thing is built from the same basic unit: the cell. What is a cell, and how did we come to understand it?
Project this and tap each idea. Have students learn the cell theory and the different kinds of cells and organelles!
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
A redwood and a bacterium share one thing — they’re built from cells. What is a cell?
Students investigate.
Students explain.
Students elaborate.
Students conclude.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (Middle School Life Science).
Conduct an investigation providing evidence that living things are made of cells.
Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and parts.
Use arguments about the body as a system of cells.
Developing and using models.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students observe plant and animal cells under a microscope and draw and label what they see. A printable cells sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.