Animal and Plant Cells

Animal and Plant Cells

Learning Target
I am learning about cell organelles and their functions.

Success Criteria
I can identify cell organelles and their functions. 

Animal and Plant Cells

Animals (including humans) are made up of many different types of specialized cells (nerve cells, skin cells, blood cells, etc.), but all of these cells have a similar structure. Animal cells have a “bloblike” shape & include lots of tiny organelles that help the cell function. Think of your own body – your body contains organs (heart, liver, lungs) that allow your body to function & allow you to live. Similarly, the cell’s ORGANelles have different functions to help the cell do the same. 

Animal and Plant Cells

The cell membrane encloses the cell and acts like a screen to allow some materials to pass through it but not others. Think of a screen in a window. It allows fresh air in, but keeps bugs out! Cell membranes allow nutrients & water in while keeping harmful molecules out! The cytoplasm is the gel-like fluid made of mostly water that takes up most of the space inside the cell. The organelles are located in the cytoplasm. The nucleus is a organelle that is the “brain” of the cell. The nucleus is home to all the cell’s chromosomes. Chromosomes are genetic structures that contain the information used to direct cell activity. Chromosomes are made of DNA

Animal and Plant Cells

Animal cells have many small fluid-filled structures that temporarily store different substances needed by the cell. These structures are called vacuoles. The mighty mitochondria are considered the “powerhouses” of the cell because they use oxygen to transform food into energy to help the cell carry out activities. Animal Cell The smooth & rough endoplasmic reticulum serve as an internal delivery system for transporting materials the cell needs. Included in those materials are ribosomes which are tiny organelles that make protein for the cell (think of them as little protein factories!) Centrioles, located only in animal cells, help with cell division.

Animal and Plant Cells

A plant cell has a cell wall, but an animal cell does not. The cell wall is outside of the cell membrane and supports and protects a plant cell. Many plants also have chloroplasts. Chloroplasts make food for the plant cell. 

Multiple Choice

Which organelle allow nutrients & water in while keeping harmful molecules out?

• cytoplasm

• cell membrane

• nucleus

• chloroplast

Multiple Choice

Which organelle is a gel-like fluid made of mostly water that takes up most of the space inside the cell?

• cytoplasm

• cell membrane

• nucleus

• cholorplast

Multiple Choice

Which organelle is the "brain" of the cell?

• cytoplasm

• cell membrane

• nucleus

• chloroplast

Multiple Choice

Which plant cell organelle protects the plant cell?

• cytoplasm

• nucleus

• cell wall

• cell membrane

Multiple Choice

Which plant cell organelle makes food the plant cell?

• nucleus

• cell wall

• cytoplasm

• chloroplasts

Poll

Click on the word that best describes your confidence in identifying cell organelles and their functions.

• I'm confident.

• I'm not sure

• I don't know that much.