| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Science |
| What topic | Plant cells |
| What length (min) | 30 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 6 |
| Class size | 20 |
| What curriculum | |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
Plant Cells
Year/Grade 6
Science
20 Students
30 Minutes
This lesson aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) specific to the structure and function of cells.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homework Check | 5 mins | Select 2-3 students to present their homework on plant cell organelles to the class. |
| 2 | Introduction to Plant Cells | 5 mins | Briefly introduce the key components of plant cells; use a diagram to illustrate organelles. |
| 3 | Group Activity | 10 mins | Divide students into groups of 4; each group researches a specific organelle and prepares a short presentation. |
| 4 | Physical Activity Break | 5 mins | Engage students in a quick physical activity, like a relay or stretching, to refresh their focus. |
| 5 | Group Presentations | 5 mins | Each group presents their findings on their assigned organelle to the class. |
| 6 | Assign Homework | 2 mins | Provide students with instructions for their homework on plant cells. |
"Good morning, everyone! I hope you’re all ready for an exciting lesson today. Let's start with our homework check. I'd like to invite a few of you to share your findings on the plant cell organelles you researched. Can I have two or three volunteers stand up and tell us about what you discovered? Please remember to share what organelle you focused on and its function within the plant cell. Who'd like to go first?"
[Select 2-3 students to share their homework.]
"Thank you for those fantastic presentations! You each did a great job. It's clear you all put a lot of effort into your research."
"Now, let’s dive a bit deeper into our topic for today: plant cells. Can anyone remind us what a cell is? That’s right! Cells are the basic units of life. Plant cells have some unique components that help them perform their functions.
[Show a diagram of a plant cell on the board.]
"Looking at this diagram, can anyone point out an organelle and tell us what it does? Yes, the chloroplast! It allows the plant to photosynthesize by converting sunlight into energy.
"Let's highlight a few key organelles: the cell wall, which provides structure; the vacuole, which stores water and nutrients; and the nucleus, which is the control center of the cell. Understanding these structures is crucial for our next activity."
"Now, it’s time for a group activity! I want you to turn to your neighbors and form groups of four. Each group will be assigned a specific organelle to research further. Here are your assignments.
[Assign each group an organelle, such as chloroplast, vacuole, cell wall, or nucleus.]
"You will have 10 minutes to research your assigned organelle using the computers or tablets available. Your goal is to find out its structure, function, and any interesting facts that you think your classmates might enjoy. After 10 minutes, you will share what you learned with the whole class. Off you go!"
[Allow time for research and listen in to support students.]
"Okay, everyone! You’ve all worked hard, and it’s time to refresh our minds and bodies with a quick physical activity. Let’s get up and stretch a bit first!
[Lead the class in a quick stretching routine.]
"Now, let’s play a quick game! We’ll do a relay where each student must run to touch a cone and come back to tag the next person. Just for fun, we’ll relate it to our lesson! When you come back, shout out the name of your assigned organelle before tagging your teammate. Ready? Go!"
[Facilitate the activity and encourage enthusiasm.]
"Great job everyone! I hope you’re feeling re-energized. Now it’s time for you to share what you learned in your groups.
"Who would like to go first? Remember, when presenting you should introduce your organelle, explain its structure and function, and share any interesting facts you gathered. Let’s make sure to listen actively and take notes!"
[Allow each group to present one after another.]
"Fantastic presentations! I loved your enthusiasm and the wealth of knowledge you shared with us today!"
"To wrap up our lesson today, I’d like to assign some homework. I want you to choose an organelle from the ones we discussed today and write a short paragraph about it. In your paragraph, explain what the organelle is, its function, and why you think it’s important for the plant cell.
"Please have your assignment ready for our next class. If you have any questions while working on it, feel free to reach out!
"Thank you all for your hard work today—great job!"
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: A classroom with students raised hands} | - Homework check on plant cell organelles - Invite 2-3 students to present findings - Each student shares their organelle and its function |
| 2 | {Image: Diagram of a plant cell} | - Introduction to plant cells - Reminder: Cells are the basic units of life - Highlight key organelles: chloroplast, cell wall, vacuole, nucleus |
| 3 | {Image: Students collaborating on computers} | - Group activity on assigned organelles - Form groups of four - Research structure, function, and interesting facts about the assigned organelle |
| 4 | {Image: Students stretching in class} | - Physical activity break - Quick stretching routine followed by a relay - Relay includes shouting the name of assigned organelle after tagging |
| 5 | {Image: Students presenting to the class} | - Group presentations on organelles - Share structure, function, and interesting facts - Assign homework to write a paragraph on chosen organelle |
Choose one organelle discussed in class (chloroplast, vacuole, cell wall, or nucleus) and write a short paragraph describing its structure and function.
Explain why the organelle you chose is important for the overall function of a plant cell. Provide at least two reasons.
Research an interesting fact about your chosen organelle that was not covered in class. Write a few sentences about this fact and explain why you found it intriguing.
Create a diagram of your chosen organelle, labeling its key structures. Use colors to distinguish different parts and include a brief description of each label.
Reflect on the group presentations from class. What was one new thing you learned from a peer about a different organelle? Write a few sentences about it.
Discuss how your understanding of plant cells has changed after this lesson. What is one thing you are now more curious about regarding plant cells?
Review your classmates' presentations and identify one organelle that you would like to learn more about. Why did this organelle stand out to you? Write a brief paragraph explaining your choice.
Here’s a list of simple physical exercises that can be incorporated into a classroom setting, formatted as a poem:
Let’s Take a Break and Move About
When it's time to stretch and play,
Let’s stand up and move, hooray!
Reach for the sky, tall and bright,
Wiggle your fingers, what a sight!
Touch your toes, bend down low,
Feel the energy start to flow.
Jump like a frog, one, two, three,
Feel the joy, oh, can’t you see?
Run in place, quick as a breeze,
Turn around with such great ease.
Touch your knees, then spin around,
Let the laughter be the sound.
Skip in a circle, find your space,
Now let’s all quicken up the pace.
Run to the cone, shout out loud,
Your organelle makes us all proud!
So stand up tall, and shake it out,
Feel your body, twist and shout.
With these moves, we’re feeling fine,
Let’s get back to our learning time!
Feel free to use this as a fun way to get students moving during the lesson!