Cellular Respiration Worksheets for Middle School

Updated March 9, 2020
Girls in classroom

Cellular respiration is a biology topic that can be a bit complicated for students to understand. Diagrams and free homeschooling worksheets can help children understand this process that occurs in living cells. The worksheets below should reinforce a basic study on this concept.

Printable Middle School Cellular Respiration Worksheets

To download the worksheets, simply click on the image of the worksheet you want to use or the text directly below it. This will pull up a PDF version of the worksheet which you can print or save to your computer. On most computers, hit Ctrl/P and your printer's dialog box will pop up. Note that in order to see the worksheets properly, you have to have the latest version of Adobe Reader. You can use the troubleshooting guide if you need help.

ATP Crossword Puzzle

Memorizing the terms that make up the processes in cellular respiration can help a student explain how cells get energy. This crossword puzzle will help reinforce the concepts and terms in a basic lesson. The student should read through the clues and fill in the answers in the matching boxes of the crossword puzzle. An answer key is provided. If the student gets stuck, you may want to offer a letter that the word begins or ends with to try to help him solve the puzzle.

ATP crossword puzzle

Important vocabulary words included in the crossword puzzle are:

  • Cytoplasm
  • Glycolysis
  • Mitochondria
  • Oxidation

Label the Cellular Respiration Cycle Diagram

The processes of cellular respiration occur in a specific order. The diagram in this worksheet shows the cycle for cellular respiration. A few of the processes are labeled, but others are left blank for the student to fill in. A word key is provided at the top of the page to help the student know which words apply. The student should fill in the blanks with the appropriate process in the cycle. An answer key is included.

Cellular Respiration Diagram Worksheet

Some terms and related processes on the cellular respiration diagram include:

  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Electron
  • Transport
  • Water
  • Krebs Cycle

Cellular Respiration Fill-In-the-Blanks

This worksheet is a basic, fill-in-the-blank worksheet on cellular respiration. It is an excellent tool to use when first beginning a unit on cellular respiration. Allow the student to look up answers in a textbook or online. There is a list of terms at the top of the page that students can use to fill in the blanks. Students should work alone or in groups to solve the clues and fill in the blanks in the sentences. The answer key will help the parent or teacher grade the paper.

Learn About Cellular Respiration Worksheet

Important vocabulary words included on the worksheet are:

  • Chemiosmosis
  • Preparatory Reaction
  • Electron Transport Chain
  • Electron Transport System
  • Glycolysis

Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis Equations

Students will need to fill in the blanks to explain what photosynthesis is and what cellular respiration is, what the chemical equation is for each process, and how these two processes relate to each other. Eighth graders who have a better handle on cellular respiration should be able to complete the worksheet without any help. An answer key is provided.

Cellular Respiration Equation

Cellular Respiration Storyboard

A big part of science learning is the ability to thoroughly explain a specific topic or concept. In this open-ended activity, students will need to illustrate and explain the process of cellular respiration. Students will be challenged to draw things like plant cells and animal cells with correctly labeled parts and describe what happens at each stage of cellular respiration using important vocabulary words. If a student needs more than three storyboards, simply print out multiple pages of the worksheet for them to use.

Cellular Respiration Storyboard

Cellular Respiration Teaching Tips

You don't have to be a biologist to teach the concept of cellular respiration. Engaging middle schools can be challenging, but with a little creativity you can make science lessons fun and memorable.

  • Use clay or play dough to illustrate the cells and the process. Take it a step further and let kids make a stop motion claymation video of cellular respiration.
  • Start with photosynthesis since kids are familiar with that from a young age, then introduce cellular respiration as the opposite of photosynthesis.
  • Incorporate hands-on experiments like the one where kids blow into a liquid solution with an indicator that changes color in the presence of carbon dioxide.
  • Cover vocabulary words first so students understand the language you'll be using when you teach this process.
  • Let kids listen to a fun cellular respiration song regularly so the process gets ingrained in their brain.

Why Use Worksheets?

Worksheets help reinforce skills from any homeschool science curriculum the student learns during the school day. They can also be used to help review for an important test or to explore concepts on a student's own time that he might not have time to study during the school day.

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Cellular Respiration Worksheets for Middle School