Cell Organelles Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 8.13A

This complete unit provides middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the functions of organelles in plant and animal cells. Students learn to identify and describe the roles of the cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, ribosomes, cytoplasm, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and vacuoles, as well as how these structures work together to support growth and survival. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday use with minimal prep, it emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning, giving teachers more time to focus on student success.

Essential Questions for Students

• What is the function of organelles in plant and animal cells?

• How can we identify the different cell organelles, including the cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, ribosomes, cytoplasm, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and vacuoles?

Standards Alignment: Meets 2021 TEKS standard 8.13A.

Key Features

• Differentiated supports for students who need remediation or enrichment

• Multimodal activities to engage diverse learning styles

• Flexible delivery—resources available in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for tailoring instruction

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson is built on the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—balancing inquiry, practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, classroom activities, and notes on common misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing the functions and importance of cell organelles

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated reading passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Card sorts and categorization activities (printable and digital)

• Write It! – Open-ended responses in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Sketching/drawing organelles and their functions

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Games, puzzles, and mini-projects for early finishers or advanced learners

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive versions

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects that allow learners to show understanding of plant and animal cell organelles in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, available in standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and class discussion questions for practice, homework, or test prep

Flexible Learning Options

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual instruction. The digital station lab and interactive notebook resources are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them easy to use in blended or online classrooms.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.