LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Biology

Goal 2: The learner will develop an understanding of the physical, chemical and cellular basis of life.

Objective 2.02. Investigate and describe the structure and functions of cells including:

  • Cell organelles.
  • Cell specialization.
  • Communication among cells within an organism.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Odd organelles
In this lesson, students are given a set of odd objects that they must use to represent cell organelles. Students creatively draw analogies between either the structure and/or function of an object with that of an organelle.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
By MaryBeth Knight Greene.
DNA extraction
In Restoring the American chestnut, page 6
In this lesson, students model the process of electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting. They will evaluate DNA evidence and look for a gene that is resistant to the chestnut blight.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Science)
By Shelley Casey.

Resources on the web

Plasmolysis in Elodea plant cells
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students microscopically detect the presence of chloroplasts, cell walls and cell membranes of the common aquarium plant, Elodea. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Cell communication
This Science NetLinks lesson focuses on cell communication. Students will examine two types of cell communication — hormone and nerve signaling. In order to better understand the importance of effective cell-to-cell communication, students will examine... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
The cell as a system
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students will begin to understand the cell as a system by exploring a more familiar and tangible example of a system — a factory. Throughout the lesson, students will compare the factory to a cell, beginning to understand... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science