Tyler McKee, Adam Johnston, Hannah Williams

55 Minute Lesson Plan

October 5th, 2016
Biology: Grade 9-10
Comparing and Contrasting Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes
Objective: The student will analyze the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells by
comparing and contrasting their cellular parts.
Common Core Standard: Strand 4: Concept 1: PO 2
Strand 4: Life Science
Concept 1: The Cell: Understand the role of the cell and cellular processes.
PO 2. Compare the form and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and their cellular
components.
ISTE Standard: Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their
practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
The students will be using clickers as a we do activity to determine if they have retained the
information.
Anticipatory Set: Remember the different organelles that make up a cell? Please answer the
following questions.
What is the function of the golgi apparatus?
What is the function of a centriole?
What is the function of a vacuole?
What is the function of the nucleus?
Go over correct functions of organelles by calling on students randomly using Ask-Pause-Call.

Transition Statement

Today were going to learn about cells that do not contain these organelles, and how they differ
in form and function from the eukaryotes we have already learned about.
Information:
I Do: The cells that we have previously learned about have been what we call eukaryotic
cells. Theyre the types of cells that make up complex organisms like the plants and animals
that we see every day. But theres another class of cells called prokaryotes. These are the cells
that make up single celled bacteria.
Now, I know the words prokaryote and eukaryote sound big and scary, so were going to
break them down, but first, theres one thing we should know. The biggest difference between
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is that prokaryotic cells, dont have membrane bound
organelles. Remember, that one of the components of the nucleus was the nuclear membrane.
So, if prokaryotes dont have membrane bound organelles, what does that mean theyre
missing? ...Ask Pause Call Right, this means that prokaryotes dont have a nucleus. When
we look at a eukaryotic cell through a microscope, its really easy to see the nucleus, which kind
of looks like a seed, or a kernel. The prefix eukaryote eu means true. The karyo part comes
from the Greek word karyos which means kernel. You can think of it this way. If you look at it,
and it truly has a kernel, then its a eukaryote. However, prokaryotes dont have a nucleus,
which means that when they are looked at through a microscope, we dont see that little kernel.
The prefix pro means before and the karyo part comes from the same Greek word, karyos.
This means that the name prokaryote translates to before a nucleus.
We Do: Students will perform a think pair share activity with their shoulder partners
discussing the various root words we have just covered, and what their meanings are. The
students will have 1 minute each to go over the information. We will get their attention by saying
one, two, three, eyes on me! Then, we will do an ask-pause-call activity to check for
understanding.
I Do: Now that we know what the names of these two cell types mean, were going to
look at the similarities and differences between the two. Well break the differences up between
structural and functional differences.
One of the most obvious differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is their
size. Eukaryotes are much larger. Theyre usually anywhere between 10 and 100 micrometers
in diameter. Prokaryotes are usually no bigger than 2 micrometers, but can be as small as two
tenths of a micrometer! Other than size, the biggest divide between the two cells is that, like we
previously discussed, prokaryotes dont have membrane bound organelles. This means they
dont have the endoplasmic reticulum factories, the lysosome demolition crews, or the golgi
apparatus that is essentially a UPS store. Also, while cell walls in eukaryotes are only found in
plants and fungi, many prokaryotes have cells walls. The cell walls are often what gives the
cells their shape. The cylinder shaped prokaryotes, like this one here, have whats called the
bacillus shape. Finally, we know from previous classes that eukaryotes have multiple X-shaped
chromosomes, but prokaryotes only have a single, circular chromosome. I know some of you
may be thinking, But Mr. McKee! Theres no ring in that picture, its just a jumble! Thats true,
but if you were to straighten it out, it would form a loop. Also, remember that the only time that

chromosomes are condensed and easily visible is during cell division, which bring me to our
next topic.
We Do: The students will again turn to their shoulder partners and do another think, pair,
share. The students will quiz each other on the structural differences of the prokaryotic cell. The
students will have 1 minute each to go over the information. We will get their attention by saying
one, two, three, eyes on me!.Then, popsicle sticks will be used to call on students to review
the information to check for understanding.
I Do: The differences in the functions of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Who remembers
the two different ways that cells can divide? ..Ask Pause Call Yup, cells can divide by either
mitosis or meiosis depending if the goal is to form a single identical daughter cell, or four
genetically different daughter cells. Prokaryotes dont divide by either of these methods and can
only divide by a process called binary fission. This also produces two identical daughter cells,
but the mechanics of binary fission are different than mitosis. Like we already talked about,
eukaryotic cells make up plants, animals, and fungi, but prokaryotes are unicellular. This means
that eukaryotic cells usually have special functions. As humans, we have muscle cells that
move our skeleton, and skeletal cells that secrete the minerals and proteins that make up our
bones. But in prokaryotes, since there is only one cell that makes up the whole organism, that
cell must perform all the general functions that need to be done. Finally, since prokaryotes dont
have a nucleus, the transcription of RNA to DNA takes place in the cytoplasm, but takes place in
the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.
Despite all this, there are some similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Both cell types use DNA as their genetic material. Both of them have ribosomes that synthesize
protein, and both of them have a cytoplasm that is bound by a phospholipid bilayer. Now, to
make sure that you all absorbed that information, Mr. Johnston is going to lead us through an
activity.
We Do: The class will have been previously lectured on the differences and similarities of
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Using their notes, students will work with elbow partners to
create a venn diagram in order to compare and contrast the two types of cells. For one minute,
the students will work separately to fill in as much of the venn diagram as possible. After a
minute passes, the students will work together to complete any missing holes in their venn
diagrams. The students will then share their results with the class. A master venn diagram will
be drawn by the teacher on the whiteboard for the students to compare their diagrams to.

You Do: The students will answer the following questions using the immediate response clicker.
Entering the number 1 is true, and entering the number 2 is false.
-True or False: Prokaryotes divide by mitosis.

-True or False: Ribosomes are present in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
-True or False: Only eukaryotes have a phospholipid bilayer.
Extended Practice:
The students will receive an independent practice worksheet. This assignment will be a fill in
the blank assignment. The assignment will be a transcript of the information given in lecture
with key words blanked out. The students will fill in the key work and will be provided with a
word bank.
Word Bank: nucleus, true, karyos, kernel, eukaryote, before, 10, 100, 2, .2, do not, multiple,
single, mitosis, meiosis, binary fission, unicellular, cytoplasm, DNA, ribosomes
When we look at a eukaryotic cell through a microscope, its really easy to see the
_______, which kind of looks like a seed. The prefix eukaryote eu means ______. The karyo
part comes from the Greek word __________ which means ___________. You can think of it
this way. If you look at it, and it truly has a kernel, then its a __________. However,
prokaryotes dont have a nucleus, which means that when they are looked at through a
microscope, we dont see that little kernel. The prefix pro means __________ and the karyo
part comes from the same Greek word, karyos. This means that the name prokaryote
translates to before a nucleus.
Eukaryotes are much larger. Theyre usually anywhere between _____ and _____
micrometers in diameter. Prokaryotes are usually no bigger than ____ micrometers, but can be
as small as ____ micrometers! Prokaryotes _________ have membrane bound organelles.
Also, while in eukaryotes they are only found in plants and fungi, many prokaryotes have
____________. The cell walls are often what gives the cells their shape. Finally, we know from
previous classes that eukaryotes have __________ X-shaped chromosomes, but prokaryotes
have a __________, circular chromosome.
Prokaryotes dont divide by either __________ or___________ and can only divide by
a process called ________ ________. This also produces two identical daughter cells, but the
mechanics of binary fission are different than mitosis. Like we already talked about, eukaryotic
cells make up plants, animals, and fungi, but prokaryotes are __________. Finally, since
prokaryotes dont have a nucleus, the transcription of RNA to DNA takes place in the
__________, but takes place in the __________ of eukaryotic cells. Despite all this, there are
some similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Both cell types use _________ as
their genetic material. Both of them have __________ that synthesize protein.
Closure:
The students will draw pictures of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell on the note cards given.
They will draw as many organelles in the cells that they can.
Materials:

-2 pieces of paper
-Note card
-Writing utensil
-Power Point
-Homework worksheet

Assessment:
List three similarities and three differences of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
True or False:
Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus.

True / False

Eukaryotes have less organelles than Prokaryotes

True / False