7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity
Goals/Standards:
Essential Question: What is the relationship between the structure
and function of cell organelles?
Standard: S7L2b. Relate cell structures (cell membrane, nucleus,
cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria) to basic cell functions.
Pre-assessment/Formative Assessment: Use the Cell Organelle
Summarizer as the Formative Assessment task for the lesson. The
standard is more about relating cell structure to cell function; therefore,
the tiered task will use the cell organelle function portion of the
summarizer rather than the cell organelle identification portion of the
summarizer. If a student matches all 7 organelles to the correct cell
organelle function, the student should be placed in Tier 3. If a student
matches 5 organelles to the correct cell organelle function, the student
should be placed in Tier 2. If a student matches less than 5 organelles to
the correct cell organelle function, the student should be placed in Tier 1.
Introduction: Students will review the Cell Organelles and their function. Students who have mastered the main organelles from the standard will
also be asked to explore additional cell organelles.
Tier 1: [Activity A]
Step 1: Students will cut out and match
Function Cards to the correct cell organelle.
Step 2: The teacher will check the student’s
work and then the student will glue or tape
the Function Cards to the organelle table.
Step 3: Students will cut out and match
Memory Item Cards to the correct cell
organelle.
Step 4: The teacher will check the student’s
work and then the student will glue or tape
the Memory Item Cards to the organelle
table.
Step 5: The student will determine the
missing organelle and write down the
organelle’s function and a way to
remember it.
Tier 2: [Activity B]
Step 1: Students will cut out and match
Function Cards to the correct cell organelle.
Step 2: The teacher will check the student’s
work and then the student will glue or tape
the Function Cards to the organelle table.
Step 3: Students will cut out and match
Memory Item Cards to the correct cell
organelle.
Step 4: The teacher will check the student’s
work and then the student will glue or tape
the Memory Item Cards to the organelle table.
Step 5: The student will determine the missing
organelle and write down the organelle’s
function and a way to remember it.
Step 6: The student will identify two additional
organelles from a diagram and match a
Function Card and Memory Item Card to each
additional organelle.
Tier 3: [Activity C]
Step 1: Students will cut out and match Function
Cards to the correct cell organelle.
Step 2: The teacher will check the student’s
work and then the student will glue or tape the
Function Cards to the organelle table.
Step 3: Students will cut out and match Memory
Item Cards to the correct cell organelle.
Step 4: The teacher will check the student’s
work and then the student will glue or tape the
Memory Item Cards to the organelle table.
Step 5: The student will determine the missing
organelle and write down the organelle’s
function and a way to remember it.
Step 6: The student will identify four additional
organelles from a diagram and match a Function
Card and Memory Item Card to each additional
organelle.
Closure/Assessment: Students who completed Activity A will complete the Cell Organelle Summarizer 2 sheet identifying cell organelles and their
function. Students will completed Activity B or C will complete the Cell Organelle Summarizer 2 sheet that has a function section and a diagram
section where students will identify two additional cell organelles.
Template Adapted from Jessica Hockett, 2009
Activity adapted from T. Trimpe 2011 http://sciencespot.net/
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity A
Directions:
 Cut out the Function Cards on the bottom of your handout.
 First, match the Function Card to the correct Organelle by placing the Function Card in
the Function/Description section of the table.
 Once completed, ask the teacher to check your responses. The teacher will let you know
how many you have incorrect. If you have all of the functions correct, you should tape
or glue the Function Cards into the correct place on the table. If you have some
organelles incorrect, keep working until you get them all correct.
 Once all Function Cards have been correctly glued or taped onto the chart, cut out the
Memory Items on the bottom of your handout.
 Match each Memory Item Card to the correct Organelle and Function by placing the
Memory Item in the “How Can I Remember it?” section of the table.
 Once completed, ask the teacher to check your responses. The teacher will let you know
how many you have incorrect. If you have all of the memory items correct, you should
tape or glue the Memory Items into the correct place on the table. If you have some
Memory Items incorrect, keep working until you get them all correct.
 You will notice that one row on the chart is empty. Look at your Plant/Animal Cell
diagrams from the lesson. Figure out which organelle is missing. Write the organelle
name, its function, and a way to remember the organelle in the empty row on the chart.
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity A
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity B
Part I Directions:
 Cut out the Function Cards on the bottom of your handout.
 First, match the Function Card to the correct Organelle listed on the table by placing the
Function Card in the Function/Description section of the table. You should have two
Function Cards leftover.
 Once completed, ask the teacher to check your responses. The teacher will let you know
how many you have incorrect. If you have all of the functions correct, you should tape
or glue the Function Cards into the correct place on the table. If you have some
organelles incorrect, keep working until you get them all correct.
 Once all Function Cards have been correctly glued or taped onto the chart, cut out the
Memory Items on the bottom of your handout.
 Match each Memory Item Card to the correct Organelle and Function by placing the
Memory Item in the “How Can I Remember it?” section of the table. You should have
two Memory Item Cards leftover.
 Once completed, ask the teacher to check your responses. The teacher will let you know
how many you have incorrect. If you have all of the memory items correct, you should
tape or glue the Memory Items into the correct place on the table. If you have some
Memory Items incorrect, keep working until you get them all correct.
 Look at your Plant/Animal Cell diagrams from the lesson. Figure out which organelle is
missing. Write the organelle name, its function, and a way to remember the organelle in
an empty row on the chart.
Part II Directions:
 Compare the Cell Diagram below the Cells and Organelles’ Table to your Plant/Animal
Cell diagrams from the lesson. Determine which organelles in the diagram on the
handout are not organelles that you learned in the regular classroom lesson.
 Add the names of the two new organelles to your table. Use pages 22-24 in your
McDougal Littell textbook to read about the functions of these new organelles.
 Locate the two leftover Function Cards and correctly match them to the new organelles.
 Locate the two leftover Memory Item Cards and correctly match them to the new
organelles.
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity B
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity B
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity C
Part I Directions:
 Cut out the Function Cards on the bottom of your handout.
 First, match the Function Card to the correct Organelle listed on the table by placing the
Function Card in the Function/Description section of the table. You should have four
Function Cards leftover.
 Once completed, ask the teacher to check your responses. The teacher will let you know
how many you have incorrect. If you have all of the functions correct, you should tape
or glue the Function Cards into the correct place on the table. If you have some
organelles incorrect, keep working until you get them all correct.
 Once all Function Cards have been correctly glued or taped onto the chart, cut out the
Memory Items on the bottom of your handout.
 Match each Memory Item Card to the correct Organelle and Function by placing the
Memory Item in the “How Can I Remember it?” section of the table. You should have
four Memory Item Cards leftover.
 Once completed, ask the teacher to check your responses. The teacher will let you know
how many you have incorrect. If you have all of the memory items correct, you should
tape or glue the Memory Items into the correct place on the table. If you have some
Memory Items incorrect, keep working until you get them all correct.
 Look at your Plant/Animal Cell diagrams from the lesson. Figure out which organelle is
missing. Write the organelle name, its function, and a way to remember the organelle in
an empty row on the chart.
Part II Directions:
 Compare the Cell Diagram below the Cells and Organelles’ Table to your Plant/Animal
Cell diagrams from the lesson. Determine which organelles in the diagram on the
handout are not organelles that you learned in the regular classroom lesson.
 Add the names of the two new organelles to your table. Use pages 22-24 in your
McDougal Littell textbook to read about the functions of these new organelles.
 Locate the four leftover Function Cards and correctly match them to the new organelles.
 Locate the four leftover Memory Item Cards and correctly match them to the new
organelles.
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity C
7th Grade Science: Cell Organelle Tiered Activity C