Cells vs.

Viruses Venn Diagram Sort

Interactive Notebooking Activity

Objective: Attribute Cards

The goal of this activity is to help students distinguish between cells These always contain
and viruses. Often students think viruses and cells, particularly Contains RNA as its
DNA as the main
bacteria, are the same. Even though they have similarities, they are main genetic material
genetic material
actually much different. Creates more of itself Built primarily of
This activity can be used as an interactive notebooking activity or as by going through proteins and nucleic
an interactive manipulative card sort. Both are excellent formative mitosis acids
assessment activities to check for understanding. Below are
instructions for each activity. Bacteriaphages Has a nucleus

One type of these Has shape specific

Notebooking Activity:
(called E. coli) helps in proteins on outside
- Print/copy attribute cards (1 per student) digestion surface
- Print/copy Venn diagram (1 per student) on legal size paper One type of these (called
- Glue Venn diagram into science notebook Has a lipid bilayer
a streptococcus) causes
membrane
- Instruct students to: strep throat in humans
o cut the attribute cards out Tuberculosis, Bacteria is an
o find a partner diphtheria, and example of one of
o read, discuss, and sort card onto Venn diagram gangrene these
- Students will store their cards in a small envelope (glued in Contains the
Some types of these mechanisms needed
notebook) for later use or glue the cards to their Venn
can causes diseases to go through protein
synthesis
Manipulative Card Sort: Has nucleic acids
- Print Venn diagrams on legal size paper -1 per group of 2 or 3 Contains genetic
surrounded by a
material
- Print attribute cards on various colors of paper. (This helps keep protein capsid
each set of cards from getting mixed up.) -1 per group of 2 or 3 Mutations in the
- Laminate, cutout and bag attribute cards genetic material occur Nonliving particles
- Laminate Venn diagram boards in these
- Form groups of 2 or 3 Destroyed by white
blood cells in the More complex
- Each group will need a set of cards and Venn diagram board
immune system
- Students will work together to sort the attributes onto the correct
One type of these Influenza (The Flu) is
section of the Venn diagram. causes the common caused by one type of
cold these

HIV

Developed by: Marianne Dobrovolny

www.biologylessons.org
Developed by: Marianne Dobrovolny
www.biologylessons.org