New
New
Specialised cells are adapted for their functions
I can describe how specialised cells in animals and plants are adapted for specific functions.
Lesson 7 of 7
New
New
- Year 7
Specialised cells are adapted for their functions
I can describe how specialised cells in animals and plants are adapted for specific functions.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The animal and plant cell models describe common features of cells.
- Not all cells have all these features, and some cells have additional ones.
- Specialised cells in animals and plants have shapes, sizes, and structures, that are adapted for the jobs the cells do.
- Examples of specialised cells include red blood cells in animals and root hair cells in plants.
Keywords
Adaptation - Differences in the shape, size, and structures of cells are adaptations.
Specialised - A specialised cell has adaptations that allow it to carry out a specific function.
Function - The function of a cell is its job or its role within an organism.
Common misconception
All cells are exactly like the standard animal and plant cell models shown in textbooks.
The lesson explores different shapes, sizes, and structures, of specialised cells that are adapted for specific functions.
Important to always link the differences in structure to function. These cells could be made as models, or descriptions of cells provided and pupils could design appropriate cells themselves.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A organism is made up of many different cells.
A organism is made up of many different cells.
Q2.Starting with the smallest, put these in size order to describe the organisation in a multicellular organism.
Starting with the smallest, put these in size order to describe the organisation in a multicellular organism.
Q3.Choose the organs that are found in plants.
Choose the organs that are found in plants.
root hair cell
brain
Q4.Which of these types of tissue could be found in some animal organs?
Which of these types of tissue could be found in some animal organs?
waxy tissue
Q5.Multicellular organisms have organs that are made up of more than one type of .
Multicellular organisms have organs that are made up of more than one type of .
Q6.Unicellular organisms are adapted to live as single cells, and can have different structures to help them in their surroundings.
Unicellular organisms are adapted to live as single cells, and can have different structures to help them in their surroundings.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which statements about cells are true?
Which statements about cells are true?
Cells are all exactly the same.
Cells always have chloroplasts.
Q2.Cells can vary in shape and the structures they contain. These differences are called .
Cells can vary in shape and the structures they contain. These differences are called .
Q3.Which of the following adaptations would help a muscle cell carry out its function?
Which of the following adaptations would help a muscle cell carry out its function?
Many hairs on the surface.
Many chloroplasts.
No nucleus.
Q4.Match each cell type to the correct description of its adaptation.
Match each cell type to the correct description of its adaptation.
Q5.How are red blood cells adapted to carry oxygen?
How are red blood cells adapted to carry oxygen?
A tail for movement.
Many mitochondria.
Nucleus in the cytoplasm.
Q6.Which word best describes a cell that is adapted to carry out its job?
Which word best describes a cell that is adapted to carry out its job?
functional
model
multicellular
structured
