Curated OER
Plants
In this science worksheet, students investigate plants by first reading a paragraph of information. Students then choose a plant, illustrate and write about it.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: The Science of Microbes: Magnifying and Observing Cells
In this activity, middle schoolers create slides of plant cells and observe them under a microscope. The lesson and PowerPoint slides can be downloaded. The included instructional video on cell observation is 20 min. 44 sec.
South Carolina Educational Television
Know It All: Microscope | Hobby Shop
In this activity, students use a virtual biology lab to perform investigations and learn lab procedures using compound and dissecting microscopes to look at a variety of animal and plant cells.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Cell vs. Virus: A Battle for Health
All living things are made of cells. In the human body, these highly efficient units are protected by layer upon layer of defense against icky invaders like the cold virus. This learning module takes a journey into the cell, introducing...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: Cell Biology
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] A cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Learn more about cell biology in this learning module produced by CK-12.
City University of New York
Cell Biology: An Interactive Journey
This interactive website about microscopes and microbes provides students with an introduction to cellular biology.
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Biology: Unit 3: Cell Structure
In this third unit of a Biology course, students learn about cells and cell structure. They compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and learn about the specialized structures in a cell and what their functions are. They will also learn...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Microscope Imaging Station: Classroom Explorations
These microscope activities provide students with lots to explore. Activities include the characteristics of living things, math in science, cell biology, genetics, physiology, and mitosis.
University of Washington
Genome Sciences Education Outreach: Amazing Cells [Pdf]
Multi-activity learning module in which students engage in learning about plant and animal cells through the use of microscopes.
NASA
Microbes @ Nasa: Science Lesson Plan: Day One Microscope Activity [Pdf]
A middle school experiment on the cell structure of cyanobacteria.
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: A Tour of the Cell
Imagine having a microscopic camera so small that you could travel inside a cell. This interactive site allows you to do just that. Click on any one of eight individual parts of the cell--cell membrane, nucleus, DNA, RNA, ribosome,...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Cell Biology
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Cells make up all living things but not all cells look alike. This activity introduces cells, cell theory, and the levels of organization in organisms.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Microscope Activity
Explore the parts of a compound microscope and view cells through this interactive lesson.
My Science Site
Life Systems: Cells, Tissues, Organs
Extensive site for teachers provides some helpful resources that pertain to plant and animal cells. Includes a microscope diagram as well as plant, animal and pond labs. Also contains links to structures and mechanisms, matter and...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Microscope Imaging Station: Cell Fertilization
The images and videos here allow students to see on a microscopic level what happens when cells are fertilized.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Microscope Imaging Station: Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Stem cells have an enormous impact on the structure of a living creature. This site features still images as well as short videos of these cells in action.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Microscope Imaging Station: Mitosis Flipbook
Use this series of images depicting the process of mitosis in the early embryo of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster to make a mitosis flipbook. In this stage of Drosophila development, nuclei divide very rapidly without cell...
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Cell Structures
Organisms are made of cells. Most organisms are multicellular and have cells that are specialised to do a particular job. Microscopes produce magnified images of cells so we can study them in detail. This lesson focuses on animal cells.
Estrella Mountain Community College
Online Biology Book: Cells: Origins
Through full-color images and concise information, learn about the origin of cells. Discover some of the notable studies surrounding the history of life on Earth.
City University of New York
Exploring Life@bi Odot Edu: Cell Theory
Essay on the history of our knowledge of cells and the development of the cell theory.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Observing Cell Division
In this activity, students make microscopic observations of onion root tips, discuss them with classmates, then make detailed drawings that are shared.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What Is the Biggest Single Celled Organism?
The elephant is a creature of epic proportions- and yet, it owes its enormity to more than 1,000 trillion microscopic cells. And on the epically small end of things, there are likely millions of unicellular species, yet there are very...
University of Arizona
The Biology Project: Studying Cells Tutorial: Size and Biology
Get an overview of light microscopes, scanning electron microscopes and transmission electron microscopes. There is also a brief description of sizes for several microscopic objects.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Cell Biology
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Introduces cells, cell theory, and the levels of organization in organisms.