TCSS Biology
Unit 1 – Cells Information
Milestones Domain/Weight: Cells 18%
Georgia Performance Standards:
SB1. Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells.
A. Explain the role of cell organelles for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the cell membrane, in
maintaining homeostasis and cell reproduction.
B. Explain how enzymes function as catalysts.
C. Identify the function of the four major macromolecules (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids).
D. Explain the impact of water on life processes (i.e., osmosis, diffusion).
SB3. Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled organisms and the increasing
complexity of systems.
A. Explain the cycling of energy through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
D. Compare and contrast viruses with living organisms.
Purpose/Goal(s): Students
Students will be to analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells.
● Students will be able to name the four macromolecules and analyze their functions.
● Students will determine how cellular functions are influenced by the actions of enzymes.
● Students will compare and contrast prokaryotes and eukaryotes, single-celled and multicelled organisms.
● Students will compare and contrast viruses with living organisms.
● Students will identify common cellular organelles and describe the function of each.
● Students will explain homeostasis and describe the transport of materials through cell membranes.
● Students will explain the impact of water on life processes.
● Students will describe the constant cycling of energy, ATP-ADP, through the processes of
photosynthesis and respiration.
Content Map: Unit 1 – Cells Content Map
Prerequisites: Unit 1 – Cells Middle School Standards
Unit Length: Approximately 45 days
Click on the links below for resources by Concept:
Concept 1: Macromolecules
Concept 5: Cell Structure & Function
Concept 2: Enzymes
Concept 6: Transportation & Homeostasis
Concept 3: Prokaryote & Eukaryote
Concept 7: Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration
Concept 4: Viruses
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 1:
Macromolecules
EQ1: What are the
monomer building blocks
of the four
macromolecules?
EQ2: What are the
functions of the four
macromolecules?
EQ3: How do the
functions of the four
macromolecules support
life?
SB1C: Identify the
function of the four major
macromolecules (i.e.,
carbohydrates, proteins,
lipids, nucleic acids).
Vocabulary
Resources [Back to Top]
Essential*
Macromolecule
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic Acids
Activators/Summarizers
Macromolecules Station Activity (Teacher) (Student) - Station
Supplemental**
Amino Acids
Fatty Acids
Glycerol
Monosaccharides
Monomer
Nucleotides
Organic
Polymer
Notes
Macromolecules PowerPoint - PowerPoint on the function and structure
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
Worksheets/Practice
Macromolecules Student Practice - Comprehension questions for
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
other state document
activity that using matching as a review for macromolecule function and
function. This activity can be used as a summarizer or second day activator.
Macromolecule Videos - Five short video clips that summarize carbon,
carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.
four major macromolecules.
Macromolecules Student Notes/Graphic Organizer - Student cloze
notes for the macromolecules powerpoint.
Macromolecule PPT/Notes - Screen Copy - PPT on macromolecule
structure & function - bold-faced terms correspond to blanks on student
copy.
Macromolecule PPT/Notes - Student Copy - Reproducible for Student
Handout - Corresponds to Screen Copy
students to answer following macromolecule lecture.
Macromolecule Foldable - Student-made manipulative to be constructed
following lecture/practice & used as a study tool.
Macromolecules Poster - Student generated poster for macromolecules.
The poster addresses the structure, function, subunits, and examples for each
macromolecules. The requirements for each box on the poster can be
adjusted to create differentiated/tiered for flexible groups. Requires at least 2
-3 days to complete.
Macromolecules Extension Activity Analyzing Food Labels Students will go home and pick 10 items from their refrigerator or pantry to
analyze the food labels. Students are required to use basic math computation
and graphing skills. Real world application activity.
Assessment
Concept 1: Sample
Assessment Items
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 2: Enzymes
EQ1: How do enzymes
function as catalysts?
EQ2: How does the lock
and key analogy explain
the function of enzymes
and substrates?
EQ3: What are the
characteristics of
enzymes?
SB1B: Explain how
enzymes function as
catalysts.
Vocabulary
Essential*
Catalysts
Enzymes
Supplemental**
Activation Energy
Active Site
Bonds
Chemical Reaction
Denature
Enzyme-Substrate
Complex
Lock and Key
Product
Reactant
Substrate
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
other state document
Resources [Back to Top]
Activators/Summarizers
Enzyme Video - Overview of enzymes that can be used as an
introductory activity or a summarizing activity.
Enzyme & Macromolecule Frame Game - Manipulative Activity Students match contextual vocabulary & phrases to the correct topic.
Notes
Enzyme Notes - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture covering chemical
reactions as well as characteristics & function of enzymes.
Enzyme Notes - Student Copy - Reproducible for Student Handout Corresponds to Screen Copy
Practice/Worksheets
Enzyme Student Practice - Comprehension questions for students to
answer following enzyme lecture.
Enzyme Worksheet - Comprehension questions and diagrams that
can be used as a reinforcement activity or a group practice worksheet.
Enzyme Notes and Worksheet – Reading guide explaining enzymes
with a question set after the reading, enzyme labeling, and graph
reading activity.
Enzyme Foldable - Student-made manipulative to be constructed
following lecture/practice & used as a study tool.
Enzyme Lab - Lab using crackers, saliva, and iodine to demonstrate
how enzymes act as catalyst.
Enzyme Graphing Worksheet - Student practice questions on the
analysis of graphs demonstrating enzyme activity in different
situations.
Catalyst Demonstration - Teacher demonstration of how enzymes
and substrates work together in a reactions. This activity could be
modified to an individual or group activity.
Enzyme Modeling Lab - Screen Copy - PPT & Lab - Students use
various materials to model an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
Enzyme Modeling Lab - Student Copy - student companion sheet to
accompany PPT.
Assessment
Concept 2: Sample
Assessment Items
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 3 and 4:
Prokaryote, Eukaryote and
Viruses
EQ1: What are the major
differences between
prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells?
SB1A: Explain the role of
cell organelles for both
prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells, including the cell
membrane, in maintaining
homeostasis and cell
reproduction.
EQ1: What are the
characteristics of viruses?
EQ2: What are the
characteristics of living
organisms?
EQ3: How are viruses and
living organisms alike and
different?
Vocabulary
Essential*
Cell Membrane
Cell Organelles
Cell Reproduction
Eukaryote
Homeostasis
Prokaryote
Supplemental**
Unicellular
Multicellular
Membrane-Bound
Organelles
Essential*
Living Organisms
Viruses
Supplemental**
Capsid
Core
Host Cell
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
SB3D: Compare and
contrast viruses with living state frameworks and/or
other state document
organisms.
Resources [Back to Top]
Assessment
Activator/Summarizer
Prokaryote vs. Eukaryote Worksheet - Reading passage and
comprehension questions that can be used as a preview for your
lecture.
Patient Zero Lab - The lab will model virus transmission and
epidemiological studies to identify the “Patient Zero,” or index case of
a viral outbreak.
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes Video (time 5:52) – The Amoeba
Sisters compare and contrast prokaryote and eukaryote cells.
Concept 3&4:
Sample Assessment
Items
Notes
Prokaryotic/Eukaryotic Cell-Virus Notes - Screen Copy - PPT for
lecture covering characteristics of the 2 main types of cells and also
comparing/contrasting them with each other & with viruses.
Prokaryotic/Eukaryotic Cell-Virus Notes - Student Copy Reproducible for Student Handout - Corresponds to Screen Copy
Practice/Worksheet
Viruses/Prokaryotes/Eukaryotes Activity (Teacher) (Student) Matching activity that reviews viruses, prokaryotic cells and
eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Student Practice - Comprehension
questions for students to answer following cell type lecture.
Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Coloring - Coded coloring of prokaryotic &
eukaryotic cells with accompanying questions
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 5: Cell Structure
& Function
Vocabulary
Essential*
Cell Membrane
Cell Organelles
EQ1: What are the
Cell Reproduction
functions of all cellular
Eukaryotic
structures and organelles? Homeostasis
Prokaryotic
EQ2: Why is the
importance of cells
Supplemental**
maintaining homeostasis? Cell Wall
Chloroplasts
SB1A: Explain the role
Endoplasmic Reticulum
of cell organelles for both Golgi Apparatus
prokaryotic and
Lysosome
eukaryotic cells,
Mitochondria
including the cell
Nucleus
membrane, in
Phospholipid Bilayer
maintaining homeostasis Ribosome
and cell reproduction.
Vacuole
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
other state document
Resources [Back to Top]
Activators/Summarizers:
Cell Structure and Function Manipulative (Teacher) (Student) Station activity to reinforce student understanding of cell organelles
and their functions.
Notes:
Cellular Structures Notes - Screen Copy - PowerPoint for lecture
covering appearance and function of cellular structures & organelles
Cellular Structures Notes - Student Copy - Reproducible for
Student Handout - Corresponds to Screen Copy
Cellular Structure Teacher Copy - PowerPoint for lecture covering
appearance and function of cellular structures.
Cellular Structure Student Copy - Student Notes that correspond to
the cellular structure PowerPoint notes.
Practice/Worksheets:
Cellular Structures Student Practice - Comprehension questions for
students to answer following Cell Structures lecture.
Interactive Cell Structure WebQuest - Comprehension questions
for students to answer based on the website provided on the
worksheet.
Plant vs. Animal Cell Coloring - Coded coloring of typical plant &
animal cells with review of organelle functions.
Cell Organelles Activity – Match the function cards and memory
items by gluing them into the correct locations in the chart.
Cell Organelles Differentiated Activity (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)
– Differentiated assignment for three groups based on formative
assessment data.
Assessment
Concept 5: Sample
Assessment Items
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 6:
Transportation &
Homeostasis
EQ1: How does water
impact life processes?
EQ2: How do cellular
transport processes
maintain homeostasis?
SB1D: Explain the
impact of water on life
processes (i.e., osmosis,
diffusion).
Vocabulary
Resources [Back to Top]
Essential*
Diffusion
Osmosis
Activators/Summarizers:
Cell Membrane and Cell Transport Station Activity (Teacher)
(Student) - Matching activity for cell membrane and cell transport.
Supplemental**
Active Transport
Carbohydrate Chains
Cholesterol
Endocytosis
Exocytosis
Facilitated Diffusion
Homeostasis
Hypertonic
Hypotonic
Isotonic
Membrane Protein
Nonpolar Trails
Passive Transport
Phospholipid Bilayer
Polar Head
Selectively Permeable
Sodium-Potassium Pump
Solute
Solvent
Solution
Notes:
Plasma Membrane Notes (7.2) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture
covering detailed structures of the plasma membrane & their function.
Plasma Membrane Notes (7.2) - Student Copy - Reproducible for
student handouts - corresponds to Screen Copy
Cell Transport PowerPoint - PPT for lecture covering detailed
structures of plasma membrane, passive transport and active transport.
Cell Transport Student Notes - Reproducible for student handoutscorresponds to PPT.
Cellular Transport Notes (7.4) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture
covering passive & active transport
Cellular Transport Notes (7.4) - Student Copy - Reproducible for
Student Handout - Corresponds to Screen Copy
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
Practice/Worksheets:
Plasma Membrane Student Practice (7.2) - Comprehension
questions for students to answer following Plasma Membrane lecture.
Osmosis/Tonicity Practice Questions - PPT with tonicity practice
questions and answers.
Cellular Transport Student Practice (7.4) - Contains multiple
cellular transport diagrams that students must recognize, name, &
describe.
Cell Membrane, Transport and Tonicity Worksheets - Worksheets
that provide student practice on the composition the cell membrane,
distinguishing between passive and active transport and tonicity
practice.
Learning the Definitions of Tonicity – Document with notes
comparing and contrasting hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic. This
Assessment
Concept 6: Sample
Assessment Items
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
other state document
document also includes information on how to break down the words
to remember the definitions.
Egg Osmosis Lab – Students observe osmosis through the use of
eggs.
Cells & Tonicity Foldable – Students create a foldable with pictures
of cells in different solutions and write notes based on the information
provided.
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 7:
Photosynthesis &
Respiration
EQ1: What is
photosynthesis?
EQ2: What is cellular
respiration?
EQ3: How is energy
cycled through the
processes of
photosynthesis and
cellular respiration?
SB3A: Explain the
cycling of energy
through the processes of
photosynthesis and
respiration.
Vocabulary
Essential*
Energy
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Supplemental**
ADP
Aerobic
Anaerobic
ATP
Autotroph
Chlorophyll
Chloroplast
Fermentation
Heterotroph
Light Dependent
Reactions
Light Independent
Reactions
Mitochondria
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
other state document
Resources [Back to Top]
Activators/Summarizers:
Photosynthesis Graphic Organizer 1 - Concept Map with ovals in
flow-chart form that summarize the key concepts of photosynthesis.
Answer key is embedded in the Photosynthesis PPT.
Photosynthesis Graphic Organizer 2 - Concept Map with squares in
flow-chart form that summarize the key concepts of photosynthesis.
Answer key is embedded in the Photosynthesis PPT.
Photosynthesis Graphic Organizer 3 - includes the following:
1. Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration Graphic Organizer illustrates how the two processes are mirror images of one
another. Reads like a sentence from the outside in. (See key)
2. Key for Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration Graphic
Organizer - Has answers filled in.
3. Photosynthesis Flower G.O. - summary of key concepts
4. Photosynthesis Flower G.O. Key
Cellular Respiration Graphic Organizer - Concept Map with ovals
in flow-chart form that summarize the key concepts of cellular
respiration.
Cellular Respiration Summarizer - Summary worksheet that can be
given as a quick assessment of what students have learned from the
notes. (Should be done as a formative assessment.)
Notes:
Energy Transfer Notes (8.1) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture
covering general principles of energy transfer, including the
ATP/ADP Cycle.
Energy Transfer Notes (8.1) - Student Copy - Reproducible for
student handouts - corresponds to PPT.
Photosynthesis Notes (8.2) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture covering
the process of photosynthesis. Includes answer keys to the
photosynthesis graphic organizers below.
Photosynthesis Notes (8.2) - Student Copy - For handouts - Includes
blanks that correspond to bold-faced terms in the PPT.
Assessment
Concept 7: Sample
Assessment Items
TCSS Biology Cells Unit Information
Cellular Respiration Notes (8.3) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture
covering the process of cellular respiration.
Cellular Respiration Notes (8.3) - Student Copy - For handouts Includes blanks that correspond to bold-faced terms in the PPT.
Practice/Worksheets:
Energy Transfer Student Practice (8.1) - Comprehension questions
for students to answer following Energy Transfer lecture.
Comparing & Contrasting Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration
- Students use graphic organizers to compare & contrast the key
concepts of energy transfer.
Cellular Energy Tic Tac Toe - Student menu of practice activities to
suit various learning styles/intelligences
Cell Energy Flow Review-Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
- Students use this worksheet to combine their knowledge of
photosynthesis and cellular respiration to understand the flow of
energy between the two processes.
Photosynthesis Worksheet - Student worksheet that incorporates
reading and comprehension questions. Worksheet can be used as an
introductory item or a practice worksheet.
Photosynthesis Virtual Lab – Three virtual labs that review
photosynthesis