SC.912.L.14.1

This lesson plan guides the student to examine the reasoning behind each of the tenets of the cell theory. Students will explore the formulation of cell theory and why this fundamental principle is important to biology by watching a video, conducting their own research, and discussing ideas with their peers.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will create a picture book about the cell theory to be shared with middle school students who are learning about this topic and to demonstrate the relationship between the development and the process of science.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will explore the cell theory. Over the course of the lesson, students will examine the major parts of the cell theory and learn about the scientists who were involved in its development.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson will help the students to understand the cell, the cell theory and the scientists who contributed to the development of the cell theory.

Type: Lesson Plan

The components that make up the Cell Theory will be discussed, and students will show understanding by writing a detailed paragraph in their own words explaining the three components. They will then work in small groups to research historical events leading to the development of the theory by numerous scientist, the dates of their contributions, and explain how each contribution increased the development of the Cell Theory.

Students will then independently report their findings by constructing a colorful detailed timeline. The time line will show the historical events leading to the development of the cell theory in a chronology order. Using their timeline they will revisit the one-paragraph summary of the cell theory and rewrite the paper to explain how the sequence of events leading to the development of the cell theory in a Chronology order demonstrates the true nature of science as we know it today.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will address the three main tenets of cell theory by investigating: (1) "How big is a cell?" (using virtual scaling and compound microscope skills); (2) "What do cells do?" (students will build a model of a cell using craft materials); and (3) "Where do new cells come from?" (interpreting evidence from graphs and making new predictions). This lesson would work well paired with a review on what constitutes a scientific theory and student practice of using compound microscopes.

Type: Lesson Plan

Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in the basic principles of the cell theory. The cell theory states that all organisms are made of cells. These cells are the smallest and basic unit of life. And finally, cells can only come from other cells.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Flow Cytometry is a cool technology that can count and sort cells.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

This resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Scientists have discovered that animal cells can communicate by sending out thin tubes of cytoplasm called cytonemes that extend across many cells to reach a cell that will receive the signal, much like neuron communication.

Type: Text Resource