Cell+Structure+and+Function

Lesson 1
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 * 1) Review the key terms and be prepared to know their meanings by the end of this unit. (These will also be some of your spelling words)
 * 2) Write each of the Essential Questions on a separate sheet of paper. As you go through this unit, write the answers to the questions on each sheet. Add to it as you learn more.
 * 3) Read and complete pages 1 & 2 (Homeostasis this is the link for page 2, the one on the page is broken)
 * 4) Complete the Homeostasis Online Scavenger Hunt

Lesson 2
Characteristics of Living Things
 * 1) Read and complete page 3
 * 2) Review and make notes about the Characteristics of Living Things

Lesson 3
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 * 1) Read and complete page 4
 * 2) Cell Theory

Lesson 4

 * 1) Read and complete page 5
 * 2) Make sure you understand how to use the virtual microscope. Watch the tutorial first.
 * 3) Cell Structure and Function - Review this site and learn the parts of the cell
 * 4) Take out your microscope and look at some of the slides you have available
 * 5) Complete the Cell Theory & Cell Intro Match worksheet

Lesson 5

 * 1) Take the Characteristics of Life Quiz Quia Quiz
 * 2) Print out your results (as a PDF)

Lesson 6
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 * 1) Read and complete page 7
 * 2) Visit all of the links in the "Learn More" section of the page

Lesson 7
media type="youtube" key="HqKlLm2MjkI" width="560" height="315" Our bodies are made up of cells that are responsible for every job our body does. But for our cells to perform all these jobs properly, they need to bring in certain particles from outside the cell (just the way that an individual person usually needs help from other people to do a big project). One way for particles to enter the cell and help it do its job is to simply pass through the cell membrane. All living cells are surrounded by a membrane which separates the stuff inside the cell (water, nucleus, etc.) from the stuff outside the cell (water, other cells, nutrients, etc.) This membrane decides what can enter the cell and what should stay outside. One way that it prevents certain particles from entering is by having holes only large enough to allow small particles to enter. It is therefore called a semipermeable membrane. An analogy could be made to a basketball net. Only certain size balls will get through. That is, a tennis ball will go through the hoop, a basketball will go through the hoop, but a big beach ball will not. The same holds true with cell membranes. Many particles, such as sugars and salts that are dissolved in the water surrounding the cell try to enter the cell, but they are too big and therefore cannot pass through the membrane.


 * Materials:**
 * 1/2 cup salt
 * 1/2 cup dry beans
 * jar with lid (quart or liter)
 * colander
 * large bowl


 * Procedure:**
 * 1) Pour salt and dry beans into jar. Secure with lid and shake back and forth several times to thoroughly mix the contents.
 * 2) Hold colander over bowl as a helper student opens the jar and pours its contents into the colander.
 * 3) Gently shake the colander up and down several times over the bowl.
 * 4) Observe the contents of the bowl and colander.


 * 1) Complete the procedure above - Record your results in your science notebook
 * 2) In this experiment, what is acting as the cell membrane?
 * 3) Define Osmosis

Lesson 8
media type="youtube" key="LeS2-6zHn6M" width="560" height="315" Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until the concentration in both areas is uniform.


 * Materials:**


 * ( 1 ) beaker or clear cup
 * 1/2 cup of water
 * 3-4 drops of food coloring
 * paper and pencil to record observations


 * Procedure:**


 * 1) Fill the beaker 1/2 way with the water.
 * 2) Add 3-4 drops of food coloring. Just let the jar sit. Do not swirl.
 * 3) Observe the beaker for a few minutes while recording what is happening to the color in the water.


 * 1) Complete the procedure above - record your results in your science notebook
 * 2) Define diffusion
 * 3) Give examples of other things that diffuse
 * 4) Watch Bill Nye's video on Cells

Lesson 9
You will begin an experiment that will take several days.You will record your observations daily. Read through the procedure carefully, and document completely. (Document for observations & question in Dropbox)

**Materials:**

 * 1) (3) 250 ml beakers or big clear cups
 * 2) (1) egg (be careful handling the egg!)
 * 3) 250 ml vinegar
 * 4) 250 ml corn syrup
 * 5) 250 ml water approximately
 * 6) 12" piece of string, ruler, paper and pencil to record observations

**Procedure:**

 * Place egg into one of the beakers. (Be careful -- do not drop the egg in.)
 * Fill beaker almost to the top with vinegar.
 * Record observations immediately. What do you notice? Continue to record observations over the next three days. Be sure to note how the egg feels when you touch it each day. Don't squeeze too hard! It may seem disgusting to touch, but it actually feels quite amazing!
 * Once the shell is removed (i.e. the egg is soft), gently rinse off the egg. Measure the circumference of the egg by wrapping the string gently around the middle of the egg. Hold your finger on the spot where the end of the string meets the rest of the string. Measure the distance between the end of the string and your finger with the ruler. Record measurement. Also record how the egg feels at this point. Transfer the egg to a new beaker.
 * Fill this beaker almost to the top with the corn syrup.
 * Record the properties of the syrup (i.e. is it thick to touch? slow to pour? etc.).
 * Each day for the next 3-4 days, record observations. First note if the syrup has changed any. Also. note how the egg feels. Compare these observations to those made in step 4 and step 6?
 * Next, gently take the egg out of the beaker and rinse off. Remeasure the circumference as directed in Step 4. Record measurement. Place the egg into a new beaker and fill this one almost to the top with water.
 * In several hours (it's okay to wait until the next class period), come back and record observations again. How does the egg feel this time? How does it compare to the observation in step 7 and step 4?
 * Remeasure the egg as directed above. Record measurement. How does this measurement compare to the measurements in step 4 and step 8?

Lesson 10

 * 1) Read and complete page 8
 * 2) Research the causes of a human illness or ailment that involves one of the organelles mentioned in this module. Explain how the illness affects the specific organelle. Also describe the effects of the illness on the well-being of the individual. Write a paper on your findings.

Lesson 11
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Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells Animal Cell Model


 * 1) Read and complete page 9
 * 2) View the link and review the differences in the cells
 * 3) Complete the animal and plant cell experiment (Dropbox)
 * 4) Build your own animal cell (ask for instructions)
 * 5) Complete Animal vs Plant Cells worksheet (Dropbox)

Lesson 12
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 * 1) Read page 10. Build your own cell model - Option A or Option B or you can do both if you wish
 * 2) Take Quiz #1 (in homework folder)

Lesson 13
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 * 1) Read and complete page 11
 * 2) Play the rags to riches game Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cells

Lesson 14
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Cell Structure
 * 1) Complete the cell structure Internet lesson.

Lesson 15
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Observing Mitosis in a Living Cell


 * 1) Read and complete page 12
 * 2) Complete the Phases of Mitosis Sheet

Lesson 16

 * 1) Cell Structure Quiz Take the quiz and document the results
 * 2) Quiz Take the quiz and print out your results