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Cell Division: The Phases of Mitosis

Students explore how a single cell divides into two identical copies through mitosis — the process behind growth, healing, and reproduction — following the ordered phases from interphase to two daughter cells.

Grade 9Cells55 minutes1 class period5E ModelExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain why cells divide.
  • ✓Name the phases of mitosis.
  • ✓Describe what happens in each phase.
  • ✓Explain the result: identical daughter cells.
Essential Question

You started as a single cell and now have trillions — all with identical DNA. How does one cell reliably become two perfect copies, over and over?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Phases Explorer · Interactive

The Mitosis Explorer

Project this and tap each phase of mitosis in order. Have students record what happens to the chromosomes at each step.

🧬 Explore the phases of mitosis — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · 5E Model

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Engage — One Becomes Two

5 min

How does one cell reliably become two identical copies?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Note growth and healing need new cells.
  • Ask how a cell copies itself.
  • Set the goal: mitosis.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Consider the need.
  • Wonder how.
  • Predict the steps.
2

Explore — Explore the Phases

12 min

Students investigate.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Mitosis Explorer.
  • Tap each phase in order.
  • Record the chromosome action.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each phase.
  • Record it.
  • Track chromosomes.
3

Explain — Phase by Phase

13 min

Teacher explains.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain interphase (DNA copies).
  • Walk through P-M-A-T.
  • Explain cytokinesis.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain interphase.
  • Follow the phases.
  • Explain the split.
4

Elaborate — Elaborate — Model It

12 min

Apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Order phase diagrams.
  • Explain identical daughter cells.
  • Connect to growth and healing.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order the phases.
  • Explain the result.
  • Connect to life.
5

Evaluate — Evaluate — Exit Ticket

5 min

Three quick checks.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Hand out the exit ticket.
  • Look for the phase order.
  • Collect as formative data.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name a phase.
  • Describe it.
  • Explain the result.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (High School Life Science) and Common Core literacy in science.

NGSS
HS-LS1-4

Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) in producing and maintaining complex organisms.

NGSS
HS-LS1-2

Illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems in organisms.

NGSS
HS-LS1-1

Explain the role of DNA in cells.

CCSS
RST.9-10.3

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Phase picture cards to order.
  • Sentence frame: “In ___, the chromosomes ___.”
  • Use a mitosis flipbook.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Focus on the order of phases.
  • Use labeled diagrams.
  • Order 3 phases first.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Compare mitosis and meiosis.
  • Explain the cell cycle checkpoints.
  • Connect uncontrolled division to cancer.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📓Science notebooks
  • 💻The Mitosis Explorer
  • 🔬Prepared slides
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

mitosiscell division producing two identical cellschromosomea coiled structure of DNAinterphasethe growth and DNA-copying phaseprophasechromosomes condensemetaphasechromosomes line up in the middleanaphasechromatids pull aparttelophasetwo nuclei formcytokinesisthe cell splits in two
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is the result of mitosis?
Two genetically identical daughter cells.
QUESTION 2
In which phase do chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell?
Metaphase.
QUESTION 3
Why do organisms need mitosis?
For growth, repair of tissues, and replacing old or damaged cells.

Going deeper? Mitosis vs. meiosis.

Have students compare mitosis (identical cells for growth) with meiosis (sex cells with half the DNA) in a Venn diagram. A printable comparison sheet is in the Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Cell Division (Mitosis)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Cell Division (Mitosis)Quiz
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1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Cell Division (Mitosis)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: anaphase, chromosome, cytokinesis, interphase, metaphase, mitosis, prophase, telophase
  1. chromatids pull apart
  2. the cell splits in two
  3. the growth and DNA-copying phase
  4. chromosomes line up in the middle
  5. chromosomes condense
  6. cell division producing two identical cells
  7. two nuclei form
  8. a coiled structure of DNA

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is the result of mitosis?
  2. In which phase do chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell?
  3. Why do organisms need mitosis?
Answer key — Part A: 1) anaphase · 2) cytokinesis · 3) interphase · 4) metaphase · 5) prophase · 6) mitosis · 7) telophase · 8) chromosome
Part B: 1) Two genetically identical daughter cells. 2) Metaphase. 3) For growth, repair of tissues, and replacing old or damaged cells.