In this investigation, students will observe cells from various sources of their choice. Plant, animal and bacterial cells will be observed as well as cells from multicellular organisms and single celled organisms. Students will be expected to provide written descriptions as well as detailed drawings of the cells they observed. Students will be asked to compare and contrast the cells they observed and provide a technique they would use to categorize the cells they observed.

Students explore the ways in which a scientist is applying research on animal locomotion for practical human uses, examine the locomotion of microscopic protists, and propose potential practical applications of their observations.

In this lesson organized as a powerpoint presentation, students conduct investigations to identify the characteristics of single-celled organisms and play a cooperative game to explore how single celled organisms develop into multi-celled organisms. Teacher background information and teaching tips are included.

In this WebQuest, students will learn about the microorganisms that live in Atlantic White Cedar Swamp habitats. Then they will combine creative writing skills and biology knowledge to bring these microbes to life. Through the art of storytelling, they will bring awareness to Atlantic White Cedar Swamps and increase our understanding of the microbial world.

Within the life science strand of 7th grade science, students focus on the processes, structures, and functions of living organisms that enable them to survive, reproduce, and carry out the basic functions of life. Often, other living organisms’ need to perform life functions interacts positively/ interferes negatively with humans’ life functions. In this task, students will research protists’ interactions with humans for an online news website.  Students will compose non-fiction essays that relate the positive aspects of protists. The real-world and interdisciplinary aspects of this lesson allow students to build meaningful connections and promote the development of 21st Century Skills. This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 7th Grade Science. 

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 7th Grade Science. 

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 7th Grade Science.  

In this lesson, students will learn how the components of a cell operate as a system. Students will discuss the meaning of the word "system" and then apply the definition to their observations of a paramecium, noting that the single-celled organism is only alive because all the components work together. They will also examine prepared slides of human body cells and compare to the paramecium.

This website provides information and pictures of the most common organisms that live in fresh water.

In this lesson, students will investigate a sample of pond water and examine a variety of microorganisms under a microscope. Students will choose two organisms to draw and compare them by completing a Venn diagram. They will then work collaboratively to answer a series of discussion questions.