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C1: Demonstrate an understanding that a cell is the basic unit of living organisms.

Curriculum Organizing Questions	What is a cell? What evidence do we have that cells are alive? What types of organisms are made of cells? What types of functions do cells cooperate to do? Do some cells have special "jobs" or functions?
Elaboration	Students' experiences should expand to include observations of microscopic organisms. Watching microorganisms is always informative, but some events are so rare that prepared materials are a necessity. Students should observe films so they might reason that the tiny cells are alive.Benchmarks p.111
Specific Ideas	All organisms are made up of cells. Benchmarks grades 6-8 5C1 and NSES grades 5-8 C1a Cells are alive. Cells are the basic "building blocks" of all living things. Some organisms are made up of a collection of similar cells that benefit from cooperating. NSES C1d Some cells perform very different roles in an organism. Benchmarks 5C2
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Some students may think that organisms contain cells, rather than being composed of cells. Some pupils also seem to confuse the term cell with molecule. Driver p. 25 Recommend that this indicator be taught in the upper grades of this range.
Examples

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