The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Cell Me A Story

Cell Me a Story

A 7th grade STEM lesson

Amber Caulkins

5/31/23

Notes for teachers

This lesson can be moved to digital or include individual whiteboards to replace some of the worksheets. You will need to determine the technology/programs you will have students use for editing based on your school and resources.

This lesson can be an introduction to the characteristics of living things.

List of Materials

• Bell ringer type handout for opening discussion
• Worksheet with blank T-Chart
• Laminated cards for the card sort activity
• Blank instagram template for their rough draft
• Computers

Science Standards

7.L1U1.8 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to provide evidence that all living things are made of cells, cells come from existing cells, and cells are the basic structural and functional unit of all living things.

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ELA Standards

7.SL.5 Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.

Science and Engineering Practices

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• obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Objective(s):

• Describe the difference between living and nonliving things
• Identify the characteristics of living things
• Create a visual presentation that communicates how humans and amoebas are both living things.

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Is fire alive? Why or why not?

Turn to your neighbor and share your response

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Is fire alive? Why or why not?

Class Discussion with T-Chart

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LIVING

NONLIVING

Complete the sentence: You know something is alive because…

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What is an example of a living thing?

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Complete the sentence: You know something is NOT alive because…

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Complete the T-Chart

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LIVING

NON LIVING

Grows

Moves

Feels

Breathes

Repdoces

Needs food and water

Dies

Can’t Grow

can’t move

can’t feel

can’t breath

can’t reproduce

doesn’t need food or water

breaks but doesn’t die

Quick Sort

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Extension Questions

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• Do any of the non living things have some of the same characteristics as living things? Which ones?
• How were the living things different from the nonliving things?

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Characteristics of Living Things

• Have cells
• Organized
• Grow and Develop
• Reproduce
• Respond to stimuli
• Maintain homeostasis
• Require Energy

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Me and My Amoeba

• Working in pairs you will create an “Instagram Story” that describes how you and an amoeba are both living things.
• Your video will:
• be no more than 2 minutes long
• include specific examples of how you and an amoeba exhibit characteristics of living things
• must include at least 3 characteristics
• include a brief description in text (no more than 5 sentences) that has hashtags that explain your video
• include images of the amoeba demonstrating living characteristics
• upload your video to a slide show template and include your text in the template

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ROUGH DRAFT: Me and My Amoeba Instagram Story

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Complete the rough draft template as you research and take notes on amoebas.

1. What is an amoeba?
2. What characteristics does it share with humans?
3. How is an amoeba a living thing?

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Write a script for your video.

Me and My Amoeba Instagram Story

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Insert Video

Insert Text

Analysis

As you watch each video write down the following on your handout:

• Names of presenters
• List the characteristics that their video identifies
• What did you like about their video?

Exit Ticket

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Is fire alive? Why or why not?

Agenda (120 minutes) (2 Class Periods)

Opening question & Discussion

Class Discussion and T-Chart

Card Sort

Sketchnotes on Characteristics of Living Things

Me and My Amoeba Activity

Watch and Analyze Videos

Exit Ticket

5 minutes

10 minutes

5 minutes

15 minutes

45 minutes

30 minutes

10 minutes

Assessment

• Exit ticket that asks students to explain why fire is not a living thing.
• Assessment opportunities are embedded within the lesson plan with discussions that allow for quick feedback
• Assessing the Instagram Story
• A short multiple choice quiz that ask questions about living/nonliving things

Differentiation

Students who struggle with the concepts of living and nonliving things should read the article and take time to annotate and carefully analyze the article provided

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Extension questions are provided in the slides. Depending on tech ability you can include the option to having more extensive editing.