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Teaching notes and ideas
Name of resource:
Cells
Age group(s)
Subject(s)
12 to 14, 15 to 16
Science
Topic
Language Level
Cells, organs and life processes
Beginner / Intermediate
Description of resource
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A reference / revision booklet for learners on PowerPoint
A set of flashcards provided on PowerPoint
Labelling activity on PowerPoint
Comparing plant and animal cells activity on PowerPoint
Preparation needed
You will need:
 Interactive White Board (IWB) or projector and screen to be able to use the
PowerPoint with whole class
 A copy of the reference booklet for each beginner EAL learner in the class
 Copies of the flashcards for each targeted pair or group of learners for the
labelling activity
You will need to:
 make flashcards by printing out the PowerPoint files as two-to-a-page handouts
and then cutting them up. These can be laminated for reuse.
 print off A3 copies of slides 2 and 5 of the cell labelling activity PowerPoint for
each group of learners, and A4 copies of slides 3 and 6.
 print off an A3 copy of slide 5 of the comparing plant and animal cells
PowerPoint for each group of learners
 Print off copies of slides with answers on if you want the learners to check their
own work when ready rather than showing the answers to the whole class
Curriculum objectives
 To know the names and functions of the different parts of plant and animal cells
 To know the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells
EAL Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials https://eal.britishcouncil.org/
© Bell Educational Trust 2016
Language/Literacy objectives
Functions
Structures
 Describing
Present tense 3rd person singular and plural: e.g. Plant
cells have…, An animal cell has…, Respiration
happens… Reactions happen…
…made up of…, …full of…, …made from…
 Comparing
 Contrasting
…compared to/ with …, …is/ are similar to…, …is/ are
the same as …, …both …, …just like…,…likewise…,
…just as…,also…
…in contrast to…, …in comparison (to) …, however…
on the other hand…
Vocabulary
plant, animal, building blocks, cell, nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm,
chloroplast, mitochondria, photosynthesis, respiration, vacuole.
This resource could be used:
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Whole class
As differentiation within class
One-to-one or small group
Independent learning
Ideas for using the resource
What to do
 To introduce key vocabulary, use the flashcards and the visuals from the
reference booklets. Print the booklets out and give to every EAL learner for future
reference. Use the EAL learners’ first language by making sure the translate the
words in the glossary prior to teaching the topic.
 Labelling exercise: Give each group the A3 diagrams of the plant and animal
cells (slides 2 and 5 of the cell labelling activity PowerPoint) and A4 copies of
slides 3 and 6. Explain that they need to label the diagrams with their parts and
with the function of each part. This is a collaborative activity giving an
opportunity for exploratory talk.
 When the exercise is completed either show the answer slides, or give each
group a hard copy of the answer sheet.
 Sorting exercise: Give each group the A3 Venn diagram (slide 5 of the
comparing plant and animal cells PowerPoint, or slide 4 for groups needing
EAL Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials https://eal.britishcouncil.org/
© Bell Educational Trust 2016
additional support). Explain that they need to complete the diagram to show the
different parts of plant and animal cells. This is a collaborative giving an
opportunity for exploratory talk.
 When the exercise is completed either show the answer slides, or give each
group a hard copy of the answer sheet.
 For beginner EAL learners, a cloze passage comparing plant and animal cells
in provided (slide 14). This can be done in pairs so as to give an opportunity for
exploratory talk and / or discussion in learners’ first language.
Other ideas for making the best use of this resource
 For intermediate EAL learners, a glossary of useful words and phrases for
comparing and contrasting is provided (slide 11). Print out the slide and
encourage EAL learners to translate unfamiliar words / phrases and keep for
future reference.
 Show slide 12 of the comparing plant and animal cells PowerPoint, pointing out
the language of comparing and contrasting. Then ask learners to write their
own text comparing and contrasting plant and animal cells.
Possible extension activities
 An alternative use for slide 12 of the comparing plant and animal cells
PowerPoint would be to use it as a Dictogloss exercise.
EAL Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials https://eal.britishcouncil.org/
© Bell Educational Trust 2016