1 Cell Biology TL Unit Contributors:

Brief Description of the TL Unit:
This TL Unit emphasizes scale and function to emphasize the dynamic nature of cell organelles
in one to two fifty minute classes. Students start by exploring the importance of the spatial and
temporal relationship among parts of a tree. The process is then repeated for a root and leaf cell.
To reinforce and assess understanding, students label a cell diagram with the functions of cell
organelles and build a concept map emphasizing the functional relationships between cell parts.
How Does the TL Unit Address Active Learning?
• Group discussions relate parts of complex systems (car, human body) to the need for organization
(static and dynamic) to produce a functioning system
o For both car and human body:
Students use think/pair/share to develop list of parts
Informal groups are used to relate parts to function
Class discussion relates organization of overall system to function
• Students individually are responsible for developing list of cell parts
• Informal groups are used to relate parts of cells to functions
• Students use concept mapping to relate ideas of static and dynamic organization to show how cell
parts are organized and interact
• “perturb and predict” activities stress critical thinking and allow assessment and reinforcement
FIRST National Meeting 2005 2
Kellogg Biological Station
Executive Summary