Unit 2 Cell Structure and Function - Science with Grapes

     

       After wrapping up biochemistry, it’s time to zoom in on one of my favorite units...CELLS. This unit is packed with mission-based adventures, hands-on labs, and visual learning activities that help students make real connections between cell structure and function. If you love storytelling in science, your students are going to be all in for this one.

      As always, I stick to a flexible, high-impact structure:

• A 10-minute bell ringer to review last class's concepts
• A 20-minute PowerPoint lecture with guided notes
• A 45–60 minute activity to apply what they’ve learned
• Any extra time is used for Review & Reflect study guides, which reinforce the essential outcomes of each lesson and give students a chance to self-assess and deepen their understanding.

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Here is the lesson-by-lesson (all NGSS-aligned) breakdown:
1. Introduction to Cells (Cell Theory)
2. Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
3. Animal Cells
4. Plant Cells
5. The Cell Membrane 
6. Cellular Transport
7. Osmosis 

ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN

Lesson 1: Introduction to Cells: From Cells to Elephants 

​​Description:  We’ve all done the classic agar cube lab: cut some cubes, calculate surface area-to-volume ratios, and call it a day. But let’s be honest...it can feel like watching paint dry (or, more accurately, watching a cube slowly turn clear). This upgraded version brings the concept of cell size to life with a twist. Students explore four agar “cells” of different shapes, including a large, flattened cube that changes the game. What makes it memorable? The lab is wrapped in a story-based mystery. Students become zoologists investigating Zuberi, an African elephant who’s suddenly lethargic after surviving a lion attack. Their mission is to uncover what’s wrong by exploring how surface area affects diffusion. Hint: it all connects to her bandaged ears and the biology of cooling down. They will see that surface area goes beyond cells and can be applied to ANY level in the hierarchy of biology. 
Justification: The original agar lab often feels disconnected from real biology. This version changes that by adding purpose and narrative. Students aren't just observing a chemical reaction. They’re solving a problem that connects surface area to real life. Plus, this concept comes back again and again across units like diffusion, organelles, thermoregulation, and homeostasis.
Teaching-Tips: I made a short video (see below) showing how I prep the agar (and yes, everything is Amazon-friendly). I recommend using twistable plastic containers with lids. They're leakproof, reusable, and make clean-up easy. 
Materials: Agar, 0.4% Bromothymol blue (OR Phenolphthalein + 0.1M NaOH), molding dishes/pans, Tupperware/beakers, vinegar, spoons

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Lesson 2: Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes: From Hooke to High Tech

​​Description:   Most microscope labs have students rotate from station to station, draw what they see, and answer some follow-up questions. That’s fine, but let’s level it up. This version adds a storyline twist. Students travel through time, starting with Robert Hooke’s cork cells and ending with advanced electron microscope images of tardigrades. Along the way, they follow the development of the cell theory, compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and see firsthand how technology has shaped scientific discovery.
Justification: Getting microscopes into students' hands is essential. The first time they see living cells, their reactions are priceless. You’ll hear so many “Wows!” you’ll lose count. Adding a timeline structure turns this from a random station rotation into a purposeful journey through the history of cell science. Students leave with a better understanding of both content and the scientific process.
Teaching-Tips:

• Don’t have students search for the images themselves. Pre-load the microscopes for each station. This prevents confusion and helps students stay focused.
• Every station includes two versions. If you have the slide, great. If not, no problem — use the digital version instead.
• I recommend making a cheek cell slide live in front of students. It only takes one minute and adds serious wow-factor, especially when students get to see their own cells.
• If you can, order live protists (I get them from Carolina Biological) for one of the stations. Just note that most science supply companies won’t ship live cultures to arrive on a Monday or Tuesday. Plan accordingly.

Materials: 1-14 microscopes, slides (cork/cambium, bacteria, protozoa, live protists, live elodea leaf, onion root, cheek cells, any plant or animal slides you have on hand)

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Lesson 3: Animal Cells: Zombie Apocalypse

​Description: In this creative twist on analogy-based learning, students compare a plasma cell producing antibodies to fight against a virus to a city producing robots to fight off a zombie apocalypse. They should be able to fold their papers on the dotted line and see the analogous structures touch! As students cut, paste, color, and label their scene, they deepen their understanding of protein synthesis, cell structure, and organelle function. After building their zombie-fighting city, students flip the page and answer scaffolded, inquiry-based questions that connect the analogy back to real cell biology.

Justification: Typical organelle analogy worksheets often feel disconnected. Students are asked to match cell parts to random classroom or city features with no real storyline or stakes. This activity fixes that. It frames the entire analogy within a realistic biological scenario, where zombies act as virus stand-ins and plasma cells spring into action. It blends creativity, interaction, and purpose, making it the ideal way to review cell structure and function in a memorable way.
Teaching-Tips:

• Read the short background story as a class to hook students and establish the mission.
• Complete the first step or two together before releasing them to work independently.
• No prep beyond printing and gathering some basic supplies.

Materials: Colored pencils, scissors, glue

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Lesson 4: Plant Cells: Animal vs. Plant Cell "Venn Diagram"

​​Description: This is a simple but effective activity for helping students distinguish between plant and animal cells. Students either cut and paste or draw organelles onto a Venn-style template, placing shared organelles on the dotted line and unshared ones outside it. The layout is clean, visual, and approachable for all learners. On the back, they answer editable, scaffolded questions that encourage deeper thinking and real-world application of the differences between cell types and organelle functions.
Justification: Not every activity needs a storyline. Sometimes students just need a clear, visual comparison tool that helps them organize what they know. This one does that, with a format that’s a big upgrade from the classic “write it in two overlapping circles” worksheet. It’s especially great for visual learners and makes a perfect review, homework, or sub-day assignment.​
Teaching-Tips: No teaching tips! This would be a great sub-day activity.
Materials: Colored pencils, scissors, glue

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Lesson 5 and 6: Cell Membrane & Transport: Insane in the Membrane

​​Description:   This one took me three years to get just right, but it's finally everything I wanted: engaging, strategic, story-based, and easy to run. The mission? Students race to actively pump all the toxin molecules out of their cell before anyone else. Along the way, they sabotage their opponents by forcing toxins to passively diffuse in, while spending precious ATP tokens to pump their own toxins out.

But there’s a catch — they have to build the cell membrane first. Students spend Day 1 designing and assembling their game board (from cut outs provided) while learning the structure of the membrane. On Day 2, they dive into the transport game. When the round ends, they flip their boards over and complete scaffolded, inquiry-based questions to tie gameplay back to real cell biology.
Justification: This game hits all the marks. It’s mission-driven, competitive, and actually teaches the difference between passive and active transport in a way students won’t forget. Because they physically build their game board, repeat the transport processes over and over, and see strategy affect outcomes, the concept sticks. Plus, it’s finally low-prep for teachers  (no laminating or cutting out cards).
Teaching-Tips: 

• Show the intro video before starting (see below)
• Playing cards are super affordable on Amazon (you can buy them in packs).
• Poker chips, bingo tokens, or any flat counters work great for ATP.
• Beans, beads, or cereal make perfect “molecules” for the game  

Materials: Every group gets 4 worksheets (game boards), a deck of cards, a pile of tokens (like 30-40), and "molecules" in the form of beans, beads, or cereal (each player needs 20).

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Lesson 7: Osmosis: Mermaid Mayhem

​Description: Osmosis can be a tricky concept, but this no-prep, self-paced BOOM Learning activity turns it into a 45-minute mission-based adventure. Students take on the role of investigators following a mysterious tip that leads them to an abandoned marine boathouse, where four mermaids are trapped in a rapidly leaking tank. Using clues from the scene and their knowledge of red blood cell tonicity, students must determine each mermaid’s natural habitat and uncover a clever twist before time runs out.
Justification: For years I ran traditional osmosis labs using gummy bears or eggs, but with growing class sizes, it became a mess. Now, I do the shell-less egg as a teacher-led demo using maple syrup as my hypertonic solution (the results are so cool!) and let students tackle this fully immersive digital mission instead. It’s more engaging, easier to manage, and just as effective. The self-checking BOOM cards keep students on track, while a printable worksheet holds them accountable and reinforces the science with inquiry-based questions. No materials. No cleanup. Just high engagement and deep understanding — all in one class period.
Teacher Tips: non here. Just the normal gradual release (read the backstory with them)
Materials: No physical handout for this one...just computers. If you do the gummy bear osmosis lab, you will need three small cups (I use dental cups), 3 gummy bears, salt, and a scale per group. 
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YOU CAN ALWAYS DO THE GUMMY BEAR OSMOSIS LAB INSTEAD OF OR IN ADDITION TO (It's in the bundle)

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Final Words

     Teaching cells doesn’t have to feel like slogging through vocab lists or memorizing organelles with no real connection. When students are part of a mission, when there’s a storyline with purpose, the learning sticks.

    Whether you’re diffusing agar cubes to save an elephant, fighting zombies with protein synthesis, or racing to detox your cell in a transport showdown, these activities are designed to make biology feel meaningful, memorable, and fun. And the best part? They’re flexible enough to work with your schedule, your students, and your teaching style.

    If you want to explore these missions and more, check out the full MP Science Cell Structure & Function Unit Bundle on TpT. It's packed with ready-to-go resources, digital and hands-on options, and plenty of storyline twists to keep your students thinking like real scientists.

Thanks for reading and happy teaching!
Ashley Grapes (Science with Grapes)