Lesson Plan 2: Cells - From Building Blocks to Complex Structures (80 minutes)

Learning Objectives:
 Students will be able to define a specialized cell.
 Students will be able to explain how different types of cells work together to form
tissues and organs.
 Students will be able to identify examples of specialized cells, tissues, and
organs.
Materials:
 Projector and screen
 Whiteboard or markers
 Pictures of various specialized cells (muscle cells, nerve cells, skin cells, blood
cells) (One per student or displayed on screen)
 Pictures of various tissues (muscle tissue, nerve tissue, skin tissue, blood tissue)
(Displayed on screen)
 Pictures of various organs (heart, brain, stomach, skin) (Displayed on screen)
 Worksheet with a table (One per student)
 Construction paper or index cards (One per student, optional)
 Markers, crayons, or colored pencils (One per student, optional)
Lesson Procedure:
Introduction (10 minutes):
1. Review: Briefly review the key concepts from the previous lesson: cells, plant
and animal cells, and their main parts.
2. Introduction to Specialization: Explain that cells can become specialized to
perform specific functions within an organism. These are called specialized cells.
Activity 1: Guess the Cell (20 minutes):
1. Distribute pictures: Show or distribute pictures of various specialized cells
(muscle cells, nerve cells, skin cells, blood cells) without labels.
2. Group Discussion: Divide students into small groups. Have them observe the
pictures and discuss what function each cell might have based on its
appearance.
 3. Reveal and Explain: After some discussion time, reveal the names and
functions of each specialized cell. Explain how their structure relates to their
specific role.
Activity 2: Building Blocks Together (20 minutes):
1. Introduce Tissues: Explain that specialized cells work together to form tissues.
Each tissue is designed for a specific job.
2. Picture Analysis: Display pictures of various tissues (muscle tissue, nerve
tissue, skin tissue, blood tissue) on the screen.
3. Group Work: Divide the class back into groups. Assign each group a different
tissue picture. Challenge them to discuss and write down how the specialized
cells they saw earlier might come together to form that specific tissue.
4. Presentation and Discussion: Have each group present their findings to the
class. Discuss how the structure and function of the specialized cells contribute
to the overall function of the tissue.
Activity 3: From Tissues to Organs (20 minutes):
1. Introduce Organs: Explain that different tissues can come together to form a
more complex structure called an organ. Each organ has a specific function
within an organism.
2. Picture Analysis: Display pictures of various organs (heart, brain, stomach,
skin) on the screen.
3. Worksheet Activity: Provide students with a worksheet that has a table with
three columns: Tissues, Organs, and Function. Have them identify the tissues
that make up each organ pictured and write down the function of each organ.
(Alternatively, students can create their own table on construction paper or index
cards)
4. Discussion: Facilitate a class discussion about the relationship between
specialized cells, tissues, and organs.
Conclusion (10 minutes):
1. Review: Briefly summarize the key concepts covered: specialized cells, tissues,
and organs and how they work together to form complex structures.
 2. Exit Ticket: As a formative assessment, ask students to create a short diagram
or write a few sentences explaining how different levels of organization (cells,
tissues, organs) contribute to the overall function of an organism.
Differentiation:
 For advanced students, provide examples of more complex organs and
challenge them to explain how different tissues work together within them.
 For students who need more support, offer them a word bank or sentence
starters for completing the worksheet activity.
 Provide students with different learning materials to cater to various learning
styles, such as models of organs (optional).
Assessment:
 Observe student participation in group activities and discussions.
 Collect and review student worksheets.
 Analyze exit ticket responses.