Animal cell structures and their functions
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify common structures of animal cells and describe what these structures do.
Key learning points
- Cells have a 3D shape (not 2D as they often appear in textbooks).
- Common structures of animal cells can be shown in diagrams.
- These structures include the cytoplasm, cell membrane, nucleus and mitochondria.
- Each structure in an animal cell has a specific function.
- Cells can be represented using 2D and 3D scientific models.
Keywords
Cell membrane - The cell membrane surrounds the cell and controls what substances enter and leave the cell.
Cytoplasm - The cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance inside a cell where the chemical reactions of the cell take place.
Nucleus - The nucleus contains DNA, which stores information that controls the activities of the cell.
Mitochondria - Mitochondria use food and oxygen as fuel to provide energy for the cell in a process called cellular respiration.
Model - Scientists use models as simpler representations of complex things and ideas.
Common misconception
Cells are 2D (as they are often depicted in diagrams).
The lesson explores the 3D structure of cells, and the use of both 2D and 3D scientific models of animal cells.
Teacher tip
Asking pupils to build their own models of animals cells, and then peer evaluate them, can help make cells seem less abstract, develop awareness of the 3D nature of cells, and increase engagement.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are all living organisms are made of?
Q2.Most cells are too small to see so a must be used to magnify them.
Q3.Match these key words to their definition
Q4.Which two of these descriptions would be used for a good scientific line drawing?
Q5.Choose two of the processes that all living organisms carry out at some stage in their life cycle
Q6.Name the process that all living organisms carry out to provide cells with energy.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A scientific drawing of a cell is what type of model
Q2.Choose the structure which is not found in an animal cell
Q3.Match the cell structure to a description of its job
Q4.The mitochondria carry out the process of to provide the cell with energy for its activities
Q5.Choose the correct explanation of why models are used in science
Q6.The key word used to summarise the strengths and weaknesses of a model is
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: Animal cell structures and their functions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: Animal cell structures and their functions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Cells unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.