Year 8 Science - Cells and Body Systems

Study Guide

Working Scientifically

Using a range of representations to organise data, including graphs, keys, models, diagrams,

and tables

Process data and information by extracting information from diagrams, flowcharts, tables, other

texts, and graphs including column and line graphs

Constructing and using a range of representations to honestly, clearly and/or succinctly present

data and information including diagrams, keys, models, tables, drawings, images, and

flowcharts

Using scientific knowledge and findings from investigations to evaluate claims

Cells and Body Systems

Identify that living things are made of cells

Identify structures within cells, including the nucleus, cytoplasm/cytosol, cell membrane, cell

wall, mitochondria and chloroplast, and describe their functions

Outline the role of respiration in providing energy for the activities of cells

Investigate some examples of chemical change that occur in everyday life, eg photosynthesis

and respiration

Identify that new cells are produced by cell division

Distinguish between unicellular and multicellular organisms

Identify that different types of cells make up the tissues, organs and organ systems of

multicellular organisms

Identify the materials required by multicellular organisms for the processes of respiration and

photosynthesis

Explain that the systems in multicellular organisms work together to provide cell requirements,

including gases, nutrients and water, and to remove cell wastes

Outline the role of cell division in growth, repair and reproduction in multicellular organisms

Describe the role of the digestive, circulatory, excretory, skeletal/muscular and respiratory

systems in maintaining a human as a functioning multicellular organism

Research an example of how changes in scientific knowledge have contributed to finding a

solution to a human health issue

Describe, using examples, how developments in technology have contributed to finding

solutions to a contemporary issue, eg organ transplantation, artificial joints/limbs, treatment for

diabetes, asthma, kidney or heart disease


Microscopes

  • Learning Intention: Explain how technology has changed our understanding of the world around us and solved contemporary problems in society; describe the different types of microscopes and their capabilities and limitations.

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • Explain what a microscope is.

    • State how the use of microscopes led to many important discoveries.

    • Provide details about the different types of microscopes.

    • Recall the parts of a light microscope and their functions.

  • Activities:

    • PPT (slides 1-12) on Types of Microscopes.

    • Booklet:

      • Activity 1: Wordsearch

      • Activity 2: Microscope diagram

    • Review worksheet.

    • Task: Tabulate the types and properties of different microscopes.

    • Interactive online microscope.

    • Video of the complete history of the microscope and cell theory.

    • Video of the brief history of the microscope (10.22).

  • Alternate Activities:

    • The wacky history of the cell theory video.

Using Microscopes
  • Learning Intentions: To use the light microscope to view microscopic details; To prepare slides for a microscope.

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • Use a microscope appropriately.

    • Focus a microscope under low and high power.

    • Prepare slides.

  • Activities:

    • PPT (slides 13-15) on the Operation of a light microscope.

    • Booklet:

      • Activity 3: The letter “e”

      • Activity 4: Prepared slides

      • Activity 5: Preparing a wet mount - Onion cells

    • Notes - preparing a wet mount

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Cell viewing sugar and salt under a microscope

Biological Drawings and Calculations
  • Learning Intention: Record observations from viewing microscopes appropriately; Calculate the size of magnified objects.

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • Draw and interpret scale diagrams.

    • Use appropriate units when measuring macroscopic and microscopic objects

    • Calculate magnification of drawings/images

  • Activities:

    • PPT (slides 16-22) on magnification calculations.

    • Booklet:

      • Activity 1: Drawing the field of view - Onion cells

      • Activity 2: Scale drawings

      • Activity 3: Microscope - Calculations

    • Scale interactive

    • Drawing microscope views video and make notes.

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Activity sheet and online (extension)

Cells as the Basis of Life
  • Learning Intention: I understand that cells are the basic units of living things and have specialised structures and functions.

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:

    • Recall the 3 elements to cell theory

    • Identify that living things are made of cells

    • Distinguish between unicellular and multicellular organisms

  • Activities:

    • Slides - Lesson 1

    • Interactive - Living and Non-Living Things

    • Literacy - Is it cells?

    • Stile

      • 1.1 - Living or Non-Living

      • 1.2 - Building Blocks of Life

      • 1.3 - One cell or many?

Cell Structure
  • Learning Intention: identify structures within cells, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall and chloroplast, and describe their function.

  • Duration: 4 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • Identify features of cells

    • State common organelles and their functions

    • Compare animal to plant cells

  • Activities:

    • Recap Models (year 7)

      • notes and video

    • PPT on Cell Structure

    • Booklet

      • Activity 1: Labelling Cells

      • Activity 2: Compare and contrast plant and animal cells

      • Activity 3: Practical - Model Cells

    • Cell - Activity and worksheet

    • Literacy - language - report and answers

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Extension - one - two - three - four - five

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
  • Learning Intention: identify the materials required by multicellular organisms for the processes of respiration and photosynthesis; explain that the systems in multicellular organisms work together to provide cell requirements, including gases, nutrients and water and to remove cell wastes

  • Duration: 3 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • Write a word equation for cellular respiration and for photosynthesis.

    • Explain what respiration is and where it occurs.

    • Explain what the role of photosynthesis is and identify where it occurs.

  • Activities:

    • PPT on Photosynthesis and cellular respiration

    • Booklet

      • Activity 1: Stations activity

    • Scavenger hunt

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Respiration PPT + questions

    • BBC Bitesize

    • Respiration and photosynthesis - PPT1 - worksheet - PPT2

Cell Division
  • Learning Intention: outline the role of cell division in growth, repair and reproduction in multicellular organisms

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:

    • identify that new cells are produced by cell division

    • distinguish between unicellular and multicellular organisms

  • Activities:

    • PPT on Cell Division

    • Booklet

      • Activity 1: Practical - Observe cell division

      • Activity 2: The importance of cell division

    • Video - mitosis steps

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Advanced

    • Core

    • Support

Cell Differentiation and Specialisation
  • Learning Intention: Identify that different types of cells make up tissues, organs and organ systems of multicellular organisms

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • identify different types of cells and explain how they form tissues in multicellular organisms

    • describe how tissues work together to form organs and organ systems in living organisms

    • demonstrate how specialised cells contribute to the function of different organ systems in multicellular organisms

  • Activities:

    • PPT- Cell specialisation

    • Booklet

      • Activity 1 - Types of cells

      • Slides to go with the booklet

    • Watch video and complete the associated worksheet

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Stile - Specialized cells

    • Stile - Putting cells to work research task

    • Video - Specialised cells (brief)

    • Game - cell differentiation

Plants
  • Learning Intention: describe the role of the flower, root, stem and leaf in maintaining flowering plants as functioning organisms

  • Duration: 3 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • describe the role of the flower in reproduction and how it helps flowering plants produce seeds

    • explain how the root supports the plant by absorbing water and nutrients from the soil

    • describe how the stem transports water, nutrients, and sugars, and how the leaf carries out photosynthesis to keep the plant functioning

  • Activities:

    • Video and associated worksheet

    • Comprehensive reading activity (teacher to allocate)

    • Task card activity

    • Booklet

      • Activity 1: Practical - Plant transport systems

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Stile - 1.1 Plant anatomy

    • Stile- 1.2 Leaf structure and epidermis

Digestive System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the digestive system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • explain how the digestive system breaks down food into nutrients that the body can use

    • describe how nutrients from the digestive system help other systems in the body, like the circulatory system

    • identify what happens to an organism if the digestive system does not work properly

  • Activities:

    • Digestive system

      • PPT

      • Worksheet to go with the slides

    • Booklet

      • Activity 1: Digestive Dilema

      • Activity 2: Digestive System- Intestine Absorption

    • Watch video

    • Experimental PPT + Guide

    • Choose and present a disease- Disease PPT and planning sheet

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Stile - Digestive System

Respiratory System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the respiratory system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 3 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • explain how the respiratory system brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide

    • describe how oxygen from the respiratory system is used by the body to produce energy

    • identify what happens to an organism if the respiratory system does not work properly

  • Activities:

    • 5E Lesson

    • Stile - Respiratory System

    • Booklet

      • Activity 3: Respiratory System Diagram

    • Numeracy lesson Mean, Median and Mode Stile

    • Practical Numeracy lesson Mean, Median and Mode Stile

    • Nicotine Vaping Stile

    • Choose and present a disease- Disease PPT and planning sheet

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Stile - model of a lung

    • Pluck demonstration video

Circulatory System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the circulatory system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:

    • explain how the circulatory system transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste around the body

    • describe how the circulatory system works with other systems, like the respiratory and digestive systems, to keep the body functioning

    • identify what happens to an organism if the circulatory system does not work properly

  • Activities:

    • 5E Lesson

    • Stile - Circulatory system

    • Booklet

      • Activity 4: Practical - Circulatory System. How does exercise affect heart rate?

    • Choose and present a disease- Disease PPT and planning sheet

    • Heart dissection - Clickview Heart dissection video

      • https://www.instructables.com/Heart-Dissection/

Excretory System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the excretory system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:

    • explain how the excretory system removes waste products from the body to keep it healthy

    • describe how the excretory system works with other systems, like the circulatory system, to filter and remove waste

    • identify what happens to an organism if the excretory system does not work properly

  • Activities:

    • Stile - Excretory system

    • Prac - Kidney dissection

    • Extension Worksheet

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Video - How do your kidneys work?

    • Worksheet

Muscular and Skeletal Systems
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the muscular and skeletal systems are important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:

    • explain how the skeletal system provides structure, support, and protection for the body

    • describe how the muscular system works with the skeletal system to enable movement

    • identify what happens to an organism if the muscular or skeletal system does not function properly

  • Activities:

    • Video - Skeletal and Muscular Systems

    • Musculoskeletal workbook - information and worksheet or

    • Musculoskeletal webquest

    • Chicken wing dissection

    • Video - Chicken wing dissection

    • Make a model

  • Alternate Activities:

Nervous System (optional)
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the nervous system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:

    • Identify

  • Activities:

    • Insert

  • Alternate Activities:

    • Insert

Microscopes
  • Learning Intention: Explain how technology has changed our understanding of the world around us and solved contemporary problems in society; describe the different types of microscopes and their capabilities and limitations.

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Explain what a microscope is. (A microscope is an instrument used to view small objects that are not visible to the naked eye.)

    • State how the use of microscopes led to many important discoveries. (Microscopes have allowed us to see cells, bacteria, and viruses, leading to advancements in medicine and biology.)

    • Provide details about the different types of microscopes. (Light microscopes, electron microscopes, scanning probe microscopes)

    • Recall the parts of a light microscope and their functions. (Eyepiece, objective lens, stage, focus knobs)

  • Activities:- PPT (slides 1-12) on Types of Microscopes.

    • Booklet:- Activity 1: Wordsearch

      • Activity 2: Microscope diagram

    • Review worksheet.

    • Task: Tabulate the types and properties of different microscopes.

    • Interactive online microscope.

    • Video of the complete history of the microscope and cell theory.

    • Video of the brief history of the microscope (10.22).

  • Alternate Activities:- The wacky history of the cell theory video.

Using Microscopes
  • Learning Intentions: To use the light microscope to view microscopic details; To prepare slides for a microscope.

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Use a microscope appropriately. (Start with the lowest power objective, focus using coarse and fine focus knobs)

    • Focus a microscope under low and high power. (Adjust focus knobs carefully when switching between low and high power)

    • Prepare slides. (Place specimen on slide, add a drop of water, cover with coverslip)

  • Activities:- PPT (slides 13-15) on the Operation of a light microscope.

    • Booklet:- Activity 3: The letter “e”

      • Activity 4: Prepared slides

      • Activity 5: Preparing a wet mount - Onion cells

    • Notes - preparing a wet mount

  • Alternate Activities:- Cell viewing sugar and salt under a microscope

Biological Drawings and Calculations
  • Learning Intention: Record observations from viewing microscopes appropriately; Calculate the size of magnified objects.

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Draw and interpret scale diagrams. (Use a ruler to measure and draw objects to scale)

    • Use appropriate units when measuring macroscopic and microscopic objects (mm, \mum, nm)

    • Calculate magnification of drawings/images (Magnification = \frac{Image Size}{Actual Size})

  • Activities:- PPT (slides 16-22) on magnification calculations.

    • Booklet:- Activity 1: Drawing the field of view - Onion cells

      • Activity 2: Scale drawings

      • Activity 3: Microscope - Calculations

    • Scale interactive

    • Drawing microscope views video and make notes.

  • Alternate Activities:- Activity sheet and online (extension)

Cells as the Basis of Life
  • Learning Intention: I understand that cells are the basic units of living things and have specialised structures and functions.

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:- Recall the 3 elements to cell theory (1. All living things are made of cells. 2. Cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things. 3. New cells are produced from existing cells.)

    • Identify that living things are made of cells

    • Distinguish between unicellular and multicellular organisms

  • Activities:- Slides - Lesson 1

    • Interactive - Living and Non-Living Things

    • Literacy - Is it cells?

    • Stile- 1.1 - Living or Non-Living

      • 1.2 - Building Blocks of Life

      • 1.3 - One cell or many?

Cell Structure
  • Learning Intention: identify structures within cells, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall and chloroplast, and describe their function.

  • Duration: 4 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Identify features of cells

    • State common organelles and their functions (Nucleus: control center, Cytoplasm: jelly-like substance, Cell Membrane: outer boundary, Cell Wall: support in plant cells, Chloroplast: photosynthesis in plant cells)

    • Compare animal to plant cells (Plant cells have a cell wall and chloroplasts, animal cells do not.)

  • Activities:- Recap Models (year 7)- notes and video

    <!-- -->
    
    • PPT on Cell Structure

    • Booklet- Activity 1: Labelling Cells

      • Activity 2: Compare and contrast plant and animal cells

      • Activity 3: Practical - Model Cells

    • Cell - Activity and worksheet

    • Literacy - language - report and answers

  • Alternate Activities:- Extension - one - two - three - four - five

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
  • Learning Intention: identify the materials required by multicellular organisms for the processes of respiration and photosynthesis; explain that the systems in multicellular organisms work together to provide cell requirements, including gases, nutrients and water and to remove cell wastes

  • Duration: 3 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Write a word equation for cellular respiration and for photosynthesis. (Cellular Respiration: Glucose + Oxygen \rightarrow Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy, Photosynthesis: Carbon Dioxide + Water + Light Energy \rightarrow Glucose + Oxygen)

    • Explain what respiration is and where it occurs. (Respiration is the process by which cells convert glucose into energy; it occurs in the mitochondria.)

    • Explain what the role of photosynthesis is and identify where it occurs. (Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy; it occurs in the chloroplasts.)

  • Activities:- PPT on Photosynthesis and cellular respiration

    • Booklet- Activity 1: Stations activity

    • Scavenger hunt

  • Alternate Activities:- Respiration PPT + questions

    • BBC Bitesize

    • Respiration and photosynthesis - PPT1 - worksheet - PPT2

Cell Division
  • Learning Intention: outline the role of cell division in growth, repair and reproduction in multicellular organisms

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:- identify that new cells are produced by cell division

    • distinguish between unicellular and multicellular organisms

  • Activities:- PPT on Cell Division

    • Booklet- Activity 1: Practical - Observe cell division

      • Activity 2: The importance of cell division

    • Video - mitosis steps

  • Alternate Activities:- Advanced

    • Core

    • Support

Cell Differentiation and Specialisation
  • Learning Intention: Identify that different types of cells make up tissues, organs and organ systems of multicellular organisms

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- identify different types of cells and explain how they form tissues in multicellular organisms

    • describe how tissues work together to form organs and organ systems in living organisms

    • demonstrate how specialised cells contribute to the function of different organ systems in multicellular organisms

  • Activities:- PPT- Cell specialisation

    • Booklet- Activity 1 - Types of cells

      • Slides to go with the booklet

    • Watch video and complete the associated worksheet

  • Alternate Activities:- Stile - Specialized cells

    • Stile - Putting cells to work research task

    • Video - Specialised cells (brief)

    • Game - cell differentiation

Plants
  • Learning Intention: describe the role of the flower, root, stem and leaf in maintaining flowering plants as functioning organisms

  • Duration: 3 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- describe the role of the flower in reproduction and how it helps flowering plants produce seeds

    • explain how the root supports the plant by absorbing water and nutrients from the soil

    • describe how the stem transports water, nutrients, and sugars, and how the leaf carries out photosynthesis to keep the plant functioning

  • Activities:- Video and associated worksheet

    • Comprehensive reading activity (teacher to allocate)

    • Task card activity

    • Booklet- Activity 1: Practical - Plant transport systems

  • Alternate Activities:- Stile - 1.1 Plant anatomy

    • Stile- 1.2 Leaf structure and epidermis

Digestive System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the digestive system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Explain how the digestive system breaks down food into nutrients that the body can use

    • Describe how nutrients from the digestive system help other systems in the body, like the circulatory system

    • Identify what happens to an organism if the digestive system does not work properly

  • Activities:- Digestive system- PPT

    - Worksheet to go with the slides

    <!-- -->
    
    • Booklet- Activity 1: Digestive Dilema

      • Activity 2: Digestive System- Intestine Absorption

    • Watch video

    • Experimental PPT + Guide

    • Choose and present a disease- Disease PPT and planning sheet

  • Alternate Activities:- Stile - Digestive System

Respiratory System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the respiratory system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 3 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Explain how the respiratory system brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide

    • Describe how oxygen from the respiratory system is used by the body to produce energy

    • Identify what happens to an organism if the respiratory system does not work properly

  • Activities:- 5E Lesson

    • Stile - Respiratory System

    • Booklet- Activity 3: Respiratory System Diagram

    • Numeracy lesson Mean, Median and Mode Stile

    • Practical Numeracy lesson Mean, Median and Mode Stile

    • Nicotine Vaping Stile

    • Choose and present a disease- Disease PPT and planning sheet

  • Alternate Activities:- Stile - model of a lung

    • Pluck demonstration video

Circulatory System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the circulatory system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 2 lessons

  • Students will be able to:- Explain how the circulatory system transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste around the body

    • Describe how the circulatory system works with other systems, like the respiratory and digestive systems, to keep the body functioning

    • Identify what happens to an organism if the circulatory system does not work properly

  • Activities:- 5E Lesson

    • Stile - Circulatory system

    • Booklet- Activity 4: Practical - Circulatory System. How does exercise affect heart rate?

    • Choose and present a disease- Disease PPT and planning sheet

    • Heart dissection - Clickview Heart dissection video- https://www.instructables.com/Heart-Dissection/

Excretory System
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the excretory system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:- Explain how the excretory system removes waste products from the body to keep it healthy

    • Describe how the excretory system works with other systems, like the circulatory system, to filter and remove waste

    • Identify what happens to an organism if the excretory system does not work properly

  • Activities:- Stile - Excretory system

    • Prac - Kidney dissection

    • Extension Worksheet

  • Alternate Activities:- Video - How do your kidneys work?

    • Worksheet

Muscular and Skeletal Systems
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the muscular and skeletal systems are important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:- Explain how the skeletal system provides structure, support, and protection for the body

    • Describe how the muscular system works with the skeletal system to enable movement

    • Identify what happens to an organism if the muscular or skeletal system does not function properly

  • Activities:- Video - Skeletal and Muscular Systems

    • Musculoskeletal workbook - information and worksheet or

    • Musculoskeletal webquest

    • Chicken wing dissection

    • Video - Chicken wing dissection

    • Make a model

  • Alternate Activities:

Nervous System (optional)
  • Learning Intention: Describe why the nervous system is important to the functioning of an organism

  • Duration: 1 lesson

  • Students will be able to:- Identify

  • Activities:- Insert

  • Alternate Activities:- Insert