Unit:

Unit Overview Students will be able to (SWBAT) describe that mitosis is a cell
division process whereby two daughter cells are formed after
genetic duplication of the chromosomes in the parent nucleus

Unit Goal SWBAT understand that mitosis is important for the growth, repair,
and regeneration of somatic cells and for asexual reproduction,
and that cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell division.

Learning Goal SWBAT describe the events of the cell cycle and how they relate to
cancer.

Standards Met HS-LS1-4 Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division
(mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex
organisms.

HLTP(s) - Eliciting and Interpreting Student Thinking

Launch For these student interviews I will inform them that I only want to
understand their thinking and I am not worried about correct
answers. They should try to explain their thinking whether or not
they may be right. To start the one-on-one, I will ask students what
the changes are that we observe in mitosis and what happens in
each phase. My hope is that students will start talking about what
happens in mitosis and put the phases in order. My goal is for
students to be able to mention how chromosomes separate and a
new cell is formed.

After students describe mitosis, I will ask them how studying

mitosis is helpful in understanding cancer. They should mention
something about cell growth and division and talk about how
cancer is uncontrolled cell growth. I will then ask how cells become
cancerous and if students are struggling with this question I will ask
about what gene becomes defective in cancer cells. They should
remember the p53 gene from earlier in the unit and the
contributions it provides to the cell cycle. Another question to help
steer students in the right direction is what happens to the cells
when they are cancerous? By this point I hope that students have
mentioned uncontrolled cell growth. I will then end the interview
asking how dividing uncontrollably is harmful to the
body/tissues/organs? We haven’t covered this question in depth
during class so I wanted to see if students could understand why
cancer cells are harmful to the body.

Visuals I will have a photo of the cell cycle showing for students to
reference while I ask them questions.
Anticipated Students may mix up the phases or have a hard time recalling what
Challenges happens in each phase. They may struggle connecting mitosis with
cancer and how cancer is harmful to the body. They will also
probably be nervous and just want to tell me the right answer
instead of thinking through it because we will be in a separate room
with an interview–like setting.

Adaptations/ These students will have extra time to answer the questions and I
Modifications for will let them reference their notes if they are really stuck on a
Special Populations question.

Assessment The students' replies on each question will let me know the
material that they understand and the concepts they may still be
struggling with.

Materials Original Question Sheet