6th Grade Science & Social Studies
Ms. Cato & Ms. Debow
Date: January 2-6, 2012 (Week 19; Days 88-91)
Monday, January 2, 2012
Christmas Holiday
Tuesday, January 3, 2012- Thursday, January 5, 2012 (Days 88-90)
Focused Standard:
LS.2.6.2 Illustrate the hierarchical relationships of: cells, tissues, organs [*define cell, tissue, and organ,
*discuss how similar cells form tissues, *discuss how similar tissues form organs, *illustrate the
hierarchical relationships of cells, tissues, and organs]
Materials:

Unlined 3 in. x 5 in. index cards (3-4 per student) for cell drawings

Life-size outline drawing of human body on newsprint or butcher paper
Tape
Multimedia Resources

Single-Celled Organisms QuickTime Video
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Mitosis QuickTime Video

Cell Differentiation QuickTime Video


The Embryo Takes Shape QuickTime Video

Immune Cells in Action QuickTime Video

Fighting Back Shockwave Interactive
How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis Flash Interactive
Gallery of Cells JPEG Image
Instructional Strategies:
Cellular Structure and Function
In this activity, students explore the structure and function of the cell. They begin by identifying the cell as the
common unit of life in all living organisms, large and small. Students learn about single-celled organisms and how
they carry out different life functions. Then they use a Web activity to explore how cells divide during the process of
mitosis. Next, students learn how cell specialization takes place in vertebrate embryos. They explore a gallery of
different kinds of specialized cells and compare each cell's structure and function. After making drawings of these
cells, they place their drawings in the appropriate location on a human body outline. Finally, students complete a Web
activity that demonstrates how white blood cells are specialized to fight viruses.
Objectives

Identify the common unit of life in all organisms: the cell


Learn how single-celled organisms carry out different life functions

Learn how cell specialization occurs in embryos


Compare the structure and function of different specialized cells and identify their location in the body
Explore how cells divide during the process of mitosis
Explain how white blood cells are specialized to fight viruses
Suggested Time

Two to three class periods
Before the Lesson


Have students research the largest and smallest organisms that exist.
Make a life-size outline of a human body on either sheets of newsprint taped together or a large piece of butcher
paper.
The Lesson
Part I
1. Ask students to report their research on the largest and smallest living organisms. Then ask:

What do you think the largest and smallest living organisms have in common?

What is the smallest functioning structural unit of life?
2. Show the Single-Celled Organisms video and discuss the following:

What characteristics do unicellular (single-celled) organisms have in common? How do they differ from one another?

What characteristics do unicellular organisms such as the ones you have just seen share with multicellular organisms
such as insects, birds, dogs, or humans?

How do these unicellular organisms get nourishment, water, and oxygen and get rid of wastes?

How do unicellular organisms move?

How do unicellular organisms reproduce?
3. Show the Mitosis video. Explain that cells divide during a process called mitosis. Single-celled organisms can
reproduce by this method to produce two identical cells. Multicellular organisms use mitosis to grow and to replace
worn-out cells.
4. Have students complete the mitosis section of the How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis Web activity
Part II
5. Explain that multicellular organisms are more complex than unicellular ones. They have tissues and organs made
of specialized cells that perform various functions such as digesting and circulating nutrients and oxygen and getting
rid of wastes. Ask:

How do multicellular organisms get nourishment, water, and oxygen and get rid of wastes?

If all multicellular organisms start from a single cell -- the fertilized egg -- how do they develop specialized tissues,
organs, and systems like the heart and circulatory system, the stomach and digestive system, and the kidneys and
excretory system?
6. Show the Cell Differentiation video followed by the The Embryo Takes Shape video. Discuss the following:


Why do you think the heart forms early in the embryo's development?

What directs the sequence of events that turn a blob of cells into an embryo with specialized tissues and organs?


How do cells in different parts of the embryo become different kinds of cells and organs?

What kinds of proteins are found in different cells and organs and how are they produced by cells?
How would you explain the similarities in the embryos of birds, mammals, and reptiles at early stages of
development?
What role does DNA play in the development of the embryo?
7. Have students explore the Gallery of Cells for similarities and differences in cell structure and function. Ask them
to draw at least three types of specialized cells, one on each index card, and to label the cell type and any cell
structures. Then have students describe the similarities and differences among the different cells and how their
structure is related to their function.
8. Attach the life-size outline drawing of the human on the board and ask students to tape their cell drawings to the
place in the body where these cells would be found. Afterwards, ask:


Are all these cells in the correct location?

How do the cell drawings compare to the actual size of cells in a human body?


Where in the body would you expect to find the greatest number of each kind of cell?
Where else might these cells be found?
What other kinds of cells are in the body?
Have students research and draw these other cells and then add them to the body outline.
9. Show the Immune Cells in Action video. Discuss how white blood cells are specialized to fight viruses. Ask
students where they would expect to find white blood cells in the body and if there might be more of these cells in one
area of the body than in another. Have students explore the action of immune cells with the Fighting Back Web
activity. Ask:


What disease-fighting cells are always present in the body?

What are some ways in which the body develops immunity to a disease?


Must a person have had mumps to be immune to the mumps virus?
What cells or parts of cells are produced after the disease-causing virus enters the body?
If the human body can successfully fight off the mumps virus, why can't it fight off the HIV virus that causes AIDS?
Vocabulary: hierarchical , cell, tissue, organ (Frayer model)
Friday, January 6, 2012 (Day 91)
Focused Standard:
LS.2.6.3 Investigate the functions of tissues [*identify the four tissue types, *investigate the functions of
tissues]
Materials:
Instructional Strategies: “ Tissue of Life” Smartboard Interactive Website Activity
http://quizlet.com/1257514/4-types-of-tissue-classes-flash-cards/
Vocabulary: muscle tissue, connective tissue, epithelial tissue, connective tissue