Unpacked Content
Scientific and Engineering Practices
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Crosscutting Concepts
Structure and Function
Knowledge
Students know:
- Historical contributions to the cell theory by scientists such as Hooke, Leeuwenhoek, Schleiden etc.
- The cell theory is one of the fundamental ideas of modern biology and includes three principles:
- All living things are composed of cells.
- Cells are the basic unit of structure and organization of all living organisms.
- Cells arise only from previously existing cells.
- There are many types of organelles.
- Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles.
- Prokaryotic cells are cells without a nucleus or other membrane bound organelles.
- How organelles function within a cell.
- How the function of organelles relates to their presence in various types of cells.
- The characteristics of different types of cells can be determined based on the presence of certain organelles.
Skills
Students are able to:
- Obtain information about the function and diversity of organelles and cell structures.
- Evaluate the function of a cell based on the presence or absence of particular organelles and/or cell structures.
- Communicate information to describe the function of organelles and cell structures in various types of cells.
- Communicate information to describe the diversity of organelles and structures in various types of cells.
Understanding
Students understand that:
- Structures within different types of cells will have different functions.
- Cellular function is related to the presence and number of particular organelles and cell structures.
- Various types of cells can be identified by the presence of particular organelles and/or cell structures.
Vocabulary
- Cell
- Cell theory
- Plasma membrane
- Organelle
- Cell structures (e.g., cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, etc.)
- Cell organelles (e.g., nucleus, chloroplast, mitochondrion, etc.)
- Prokaryote
- Eukaryote
- Bacterial cell
- Plant cell
- Animal cell
- Muscle cell
- Other types of cells such as unicellular organisms (e.g., amoeba), nerve cell, sex cell (sperm/egg), etc.
