Lesson Plan

• Describe the common organelles found in all eukaryotic cells.
• Compare and contrast plant‑specific and animal‑specific cellular structures.
• Explain how structural differences relate to functions such as photosynthesis, support, and intracellular digestion.
• Interpret a comparative table to identify key distinguishing features.
• Label a diagram of a typical plant cell and a typical animal cell accurately.

• Projector and digital slide deck
• Printed comparative‑table handout
• Worksheets with labelled plant and animal cell diagrams
• Prepared microscope slides of plant and animal cells
• Microscopes (one per pair of students)
• Markers and whiteboard

Begin with a quick image of a leaf and a piece of animal tissue to spark curiosity about why they look so different. Ask students to recall the basic parts of a cell from previous lessons. Explain that today they will identify which structures are shared and which are unique, and they will be able to justify the functional reasons behind those differences.

1. Do‑now (5') – short quiz on cell organelles to activate prior knowledge.
2. Mini‑lecture with slides (10') – overview of common eukaryotic structures and introduction of plant‑specific and animal‑specific organelles.
3. Guided analysis (10') – students work in pairs to fill in a blank comparative table, discussing each feature.
4. Hands‑on labeling activity (15') – using microscopes, students observe prepared slides and then label printed diagrams of plant and animal cells.
5. Think‑pair‑share (10') – discuss functional implications of the structural differences listed.
6. Exit ticket (5') – each student writes one key difference and its functional significance.

Summarise the main similarities and the distinctive features of plant and animal cells, linking each to its biological role. Collect exit tickets to check understanding, and assign a brief homework task: write a paragraph explaining how the presence of a cell wall influences a plant’s ability to grow upright.