Dividing to Multiply: Mastering Mitosis in Your High School Classroom

Mitosis is one of my favorite topics to teach! It never ceases to amaze me how our bodies repair, grow, and duplicate our cells without any direction from us!

Tired of your typical text-book lessons? Looking for something more engaging and exciting for your students? I have got you covered! I have created this engaging mitosis unit plan for busy high school teachers like you! By the end of this mitosis unit, your students will leave equipped not only with a deep scientific understanding of mitosis and the cell cycle, but also with an appreciation for its significance in living things.

Start with the Basics

Prime Students with a Pre-Test:

Pre-tests establish what students need to learn and establish a baseline that can help you to better track and measure student growth in your classroom. I like to review the answers with the student after the pre-test.

Engage Students and Build Connections:

Use this video handout to accompany the Amoeba’s Sisters Mitosis video to introduce your students to the cell cycle, mitosis, the phases of mitosis, cytokinesis, and the mechanics and organelles that orchestrate cell division. This is an engaging and effective assignment to pre-load your students before digging deeper into the unit.

Allow Your Students to Explore

Get Them Out of Their Seats:

In this Mitosis and the Cell Cycle Stations Lab, students will explore twelve stations covering interphase, the cell cycle, mitosis, and cytokinesis. This is one of my best-selling activities! Students and teachers love it! I simply place the station cards around my room. You could also hang them on a wall or hallway.

Utilize Technology and Virtual Labs:

This student-led Mitosis Webquest uses engaging online resources and virtual labs to teach students about the cell cycle, mitosis, and cancer. It is truly student-led and allows for independent research, practice, and investigation.

Provide Clear Explanations

Step-by-Step Walkthrough:

Deliver an engaging presentation while students take notes using the Mitosis PowerPoint and Notes. This presentation is embedded with diagrams and videos to teach students about cell division and walks students through the stages of mitosis, the cell cycle, and the mechanisms behind cell division in a clear step-by-step manner. After the presentation, students answers comprehension questions and can complete a fun Kahoot.

Enrich Learning with Models and Graphic Organizers

Mitosis Modeling Lab:

In this Mitosis Cookie Lab, students model the phases of mitosis using sandwich cookies, sprinkles, and candy. Students will follow a simple procedure, sketch their models, and answer analysis and conclusion questions. Very low prep and engaging!

Mitosis Graphic Organizer:

Students will label diagrams, complete tables, match terms, and answer true false questions on this Mitosis Graphic Organizer Activity.

Evaluate and Remediate

Mitosis and Cell Cycle Assessment:

Use the pre-made 40-question Mitosis Unit Assessment or choose from over 90 questions to create your own quiz or test. Multiple choice, true or false, labeling, and short answer questions are included. Everything is editable!

Remediate with a Reading Comprehension:

Identify who is still struggling after evaluating your students’ test scores. You may provide small groups with more practice or reteach using the Mitosis Reading Comprehension.

Always Have a Backup Plan!

Keep Emergency Sub Plans:

If your plans change, the wifi goes out, a fire drill turned into a half-day fiasco, or you just can’t make it in that day, I’ve got you covered. There are many items in this Mitosis unit that are student-led, do no require prior knowledge, and are easy to print and go!

Mitosis Reading Comprehension and Questions
Mitosis Webquest

Like what you see?

Download my Mitosis Unit Plan that includes everything you need to teach mitosis and the cell cycle. Includes all unit resources, teacher’s unit plan and pacing guide, NGSS standards, vocabulary, lesson objectives, enduring understandings, essential questions, pacing guide and editable unit and daily lesson plan templates.