1. Levels of Organization in Living Things
Note: Please do not have the students copy all of the information on these slides as notes, it is better to have them go through the slides and show you understanding.
For example: As you work through each slide, have students show understanding in their notebooks, whiteboards, discussion, etc.

2. Review: can you list the 3 main ideas in the Cell Theory?
A cell is the smallest unit that is capable of performing life functions.
Check with whiteboards, talk at tables, or other quick check
All living things are made of cells.
The cell is the basic unit of life.
Living cells come only from other living cells

3. Levels of Organization in Living Things Cells can group together to form organisms:
Tissue
Group of cells working together
Your textbook is a system made of smaller parts.
What levels of organization are found in your text book?
How is this similar to levels of organization in living things?
Organ
Group of tissues working together
Consider linking the “Try This” activity on page 337 of the grade 7 textbook. (If you do not have this activity, here is a summary:
1. examine textbook to see how it is subdivided- into chapters, sections and so on.
Make a concept map that show this pattern of organization. Place the largest subdivision at the top of the map and the smallest at the bottom.
Compare the levels of organization in the book to those in complex organisms- like in this slide of the powerpoint.
Have students write to explain how the levels of organization in a textbook are similar/different than the levels of organization in living things.
Organ System
Group of organs working together
Organism
Any living thing made of 1 or more cells

4. Levels of Organization in an Animal
TWPS: Can you describe another grouping system where smaller parts group to make increasingly larger wholes?
Similar cells can group together to form a tissue and do a particular job more efficiently.
Different types of tissues can group to form an organ and do a particular job.
Different organs and group to form an organ system and do a particular job.
Organ systems group to form an organism and carry out all of the processes necessary for life.
Consider using the Think, Write, Pair, Share as an output in student notebooks to check student understanding of the concept of “levels of organization”.
Kids might choose to write about any system that is made of smaller parts

5. Plants have organs: root, stem ,leaf
LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION IN A PLANT
Plants have specialized cells: epidermal cells, xylem cells and phloem cells are examples
Plants have tissues: such as transport tissue (vascular tissue/”veins”) or protection tissue (dermal tissue/”covering” of plant)
Plants have organs: root, stem ,leaf
Plants have systems: shoot and root systems
There are many types of plant organisms: rosebush, oak tree, Bermuda grass are examples
transport tissue must be made up of some type of specialized cell- xylem or phloem
By the same reasoning, A root is an organ because it is made of different types of tissues: protection tissue (dermal tissue on the outside of the root) and transport tissue ( vascular tissue or veins)
TPS:
Can you guess what type of cell might make-up protection tissue?
Why is a root considered to be an organ?

6. Quick Check! 5 3 1 2 4 Match the diagram to the level of organization:
A. Cell
B. Tissue
C. Organ
D. Organ System
E. Organism 5 3 1 2
Key: 5 4 3 1 2 4