Unit Overview
Students solve two cell mysteries, determine the source of "mystery cells" in a lab setting, and engineer a new cell for a function of choice.
- Lesson 1
Solve: Cell Phenomenon + Hunger Mystery
Choose to solve either a live video mystery that compares unicellular and multicellular organisms or an animated mystery on how our cells make energy for our bodies. By the end of The Solve, students will discover that our cells consist of many parts, each of which serves a specific function, and that our cells work together to allow our bodies to function. (Live Solve: 45-70 minutes; Animated Solve: 45-70 minutes)
- Lesson 2
Make: Explore Cells!
Students are given a set of mysterious samples and asked to determine whether they are samples of living or nonliving things. They use online explorations and microscopic examinations to compare and contrast animal and plant cell structure. They then apply this knowledge to draw conclusions about the mysterious specimens. Through an optional extension, students create a cell analogy to demonstrate how the function of cell organelles contributes to the cell function. (Make activity: 300 minutes; Optional Extension: 200 minutes)
- Lesson 3
Engineer: Engineer a Never-Before-Seen Cell
Learners will design a never-before-seen cell, identifying key organelles required in order to make their cell function. Building from The Make, students focus on the theme that structure helps support function. (120 minutes)