The following resources were collected to aid in teaching and learning
about cellular processes for high school students. The resources
include information for teachers and students and were selected to meet
the guidelines established by the Tennessee Curriculum Frameworks Gateway
Test: BIOLOGY Standard 1.0 Cells:
The student will investigate the structures and functions of cell membranes,
organelles, and component biomolecules as related to cell processes.
Many students have trouble visualizing cells as 3- dimensional units,
containing several
different parts, working together. The purpose of this activity
is to provide students with a hands-on activity using common materials
to simulate cell parts in order to create a model of both plant and animal
cells.
This activity will enhance students understanding of the 3-D characteristics
of cells while reinforcing their knowledge of plant and animal cell.
As this activity works equally well as a structured, teacher directed activity
or a creative small group or individual endeavor; the students' own experience
and knowledge are the only determinants.
Cell
Project
Lesson Plan: Group Activity
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/AEF/1996/rogers_cell.html
Author: Kimberly Rogers; Mountain View High School, Mountain View,
CA.
This project is an alternative to the traditional methods of teaching
a unit and similar to the first activity listed above. It is designed as
a cooperative learning activity where each student is held accountable
for his/her role in the group. When the project is complete, students will
know what a cell is and where cells are found. They will know the function
and role of each organelle, as well as the differences between plant and
animal cells. The lesson plan includes an assessment rubric as well
as many helpful guidelines for accomplishing successful group work.
Cell
Structures
Internet Project: TrackStar
http://trackstar.hprtec.org:80/main/display.php3?track_id=19081
High School Grades 9-12
Track # 19081
In this unit, students will use the Internet to research the structure
and function of cell organelles by viewing illustrations, images of actual
cells, and videos of cells undergoing metabolic activities. Learning expectations
are that the students will be able to describe the structure found in plant
or animal cells, and relate their structure to function. TrackStar
is a site that allows teachers to make web pages for their class without
having a server and this is an example of one teacher’s work. This
site has many others or make your own!
The Cell
& Protein Synthesis
Internet Project
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/dna/index.html#
@1998 WGBH
This is a DNA workshop activity which is perfect for use in a classroom workstation. In this exercise, students are walked through the process of not only making DNA but also how to replicate the DNA. This is an excellent activity and would be of much use in the biology classroom. DNA replication is often a difficult concept for students to understand and this exercise is quite useful. The activity requires downloading the Shockwave plug-in. It is also available in non-Javascript text version for those unable to access with Shockwave.
CELLS Alive!
Content Resource
http://www.cellsalive.com/
Author: James A. Sullivan; Publisher: Quill Graphics
CELLS Alive! is a highly visual site, where you'll find movies and animated illustrations on cell processes, parasites, penicillin and more. An excellent information source that can be used directly by students or by teachers.
The
Biology Project: Cell Biology
Content Resource and Internet Learning Activity
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/cell_bio.html
University of Arizona
The Biology Project is an online, interactive resource for learning
about biology. This link takes you directly to the problem sets and
tutorials designed for learning about different aspects of cell biology.
Another great resource that can be used by both teacher and student.
The site includes an Onion Root Tip Virtual Lab, which is simply a digital
version of the classic microscope lab included in many biology classes.
Teachers could use this as a supplement and review to lab activity.
The site includes an activity called HIV 2000, which is a computer simulation
of the spread of HIV through a population. The site is available
in Spanish.
A
Cell is a Small City
Internet Teaching Tool: WebQuest
http://edservices.aea7.k12.ia.us/edtech/teacherpages/cwinstead3/index.html
Copyright 1999 by Christine Winstead
WebQuests are inquiry oriented activities in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. In this activity, students are given the task of designing a cell “city” by learning the specific functions of each organelle. Both plant and animal cells are very complex, and this activity is designed to help students begin to relate all the components of the cell to one functioning unit. Although this project is very simple as compared to the actual cell and how it functions, it may serve a starting point for students' understanding from which they can build upon later. The WebQuest site can also be used for students and teachers to create their own projects on studying the cell (or anything else!) and posted to share.
cells.de
Reference Tool
http://www.cells.de/cellseng/wir/index_wir.htm
© IWF Göttingen 1998-2001
Sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany)
cells.de is an online service for cell biology. The site includes links to many different education sites on cells; a search engine; a media database of scientific films and resources; dictionaries; documents for experimental exercises; on-line periodicals; and other literature resources. cells.de is a very useful and comprehensive site.
American
Association of the Advancement of Science: Project 2061
Biology Textbook Evaluation
http://www.project2061.org/newsinfo/research/textbook/hsbio/genome.htm
This site offers comprehensive evaluations of the available biology textbooks, as well as many informative articles on related subjects. This site link included on this web page because the linked page offers an interesting article, “Will Biology Textbooks Help Students Understand the Science and Implications of the Human Genome Project?” which focuses on the teaching cell biology (focus DNA and protein synthesis).
Homeworkhelp.com:
High School Biology
Tutorials and Homework Help
http://www.homeworkhelp.com/homeworkhelp/freemember/text/bio/high/topic04.htm
This site offers wonderful online tutorials and quizzes for high school
biology students, as well as helpful hints for test preparation.
The site also offers an online “homework help” service where students can
post questions.