What's the difference between plant and animal cells? If your biology or life science students need to be able to answer this question, help them do so with these five simple steps you can use to teach plant and animal cells.
Step 1-Investigate with a Lab to Engage
After students know what question they are trying to answer, involve them in some inquiry-based learning by letting them investigate. The Comparing Plant and Animal Cells Investigation is simple. All you need is a microscope, microscope slides and coverslips, swabs, methylene blue, and a red onion (or yellow onion and iodine). Students complete the investigation by observing their cells as the animal cell and the onion tissue for the plant cell. Based on the cells they view using the microscope, they gather information about basic differences between plant and animal cells including shape and connectedness of the cells.
Step 2-Explore by Building Plant and Animal Cells
Now that your students know a little about the basic differences between plant and animal cells, let them construct a paper model of a plant and animal cell to explore even more differences. In this Building Plant and Animal Cells Exploration Activity, students read information about plant and animal cells and construct the model based on what they read. As they build, they learn about even more differences between plant and animal cells, including which organelles, like the chloroplast for example, are found in which cell. Students can add the completed paper model to their notebooks as notes.
Step 3-Complete a Venn Diagram to Explain
At this point in the lesson, your students have gathered the basic information they need to compare plant and animal cells. Now, make sure they understand it by completing a Venn Diagram comparing plant and animal cells. You could complete the Plant and Animal Cells Venn Diagram Activity together as a class. Or, each student or student groups could complete the Venn Diagram, and then you could conference with them, check their work, and discuss any misconceptions you see. Students can also add the Venn Diagram activity to their student notebook for notes.
Step 4-Elaborate with Color and a Puzzle
Next, they practice using the information about plant and animal cells they have gathered. What better way to practice recognizing characteristics of plant and animal cells than to color and complete a puzzle? I like to let students choose which assignments they complete. First, they choose to complete both the Plant Cell Coloring and the Animal Cell Coloring Worksheet. Or, they can complete a coloring page with both plant and animal cells.
After they complete the coloring assignment, I assess their work to check for any misunderstandings. I use the coloring assignment as their "ticket" to complete the next assignment, which is the puzzle. The students can choose to complete the Plant and Animal Cell Organelles and Structures Tarsia Puzzle in digital or print.
Step 5-Assess with a Plant and Animal Cells Assignment
Finally, have students complete an assignment to show you what they know about plant and animal cells. One option is to assign a quick-write assignment. Set a timer for 5 minutes and encourage students to write (and/or draw) about their understanding of plant and animal cells. Challenge them only to stop when the timer buzzes. If you're looking for a "quick to assess" assignment, you can use the Plant and Animal Cells Worksheets, the Plant vs Animal Cells Worksheet, or the Plant and Animal Cells Maze.
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