New
New
Year 7

Animal cell structures and their functions

I can identify common structures of animal cells and describe what these structures do.

New
New
Year 7

Animal cell structures and their functions

I can identify common structures of animal cells and describe what these structures do.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Cells have a 3D shape (not 2D as they often appear in textbooks).
  2. Common structures of animal cells can be shown in diagrams.
  3. These structures include the cytoplasm, cell membrane, nucleus and mitochondria.
  4. Each structure in an animal cell has a specific function.
  5. 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.

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.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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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6 Questions

Q1.
What are all living organisms are made of?
blood
Correct answer: cells
organs
Q2.
Most cells are too small to see so a must be used to magnify them.
Correct Answer: light microscope, microscope, optical microscope
Q3.
Match these key words to their definition
Correct Answer:Magnification,Make an object bigger

Make an object bigger

Correct Answer:Focus,Make an object clearer

Make an object clearer

Correct Answer:Lens,Glass that magnifies and focuses an image

Glass that magnifies and focuses an image

Q4.
Which two of these descriptions would be used for a good scientific line drawing?
Correct answer: Smooth continuous lines
Sketched lines
Shaded
Correct answer: Labelled
Q5.
Choose two of the processes that all living organisms carry out at some stage in their life cycle
Breathing
Correct answer: Movement
Thinking
Correct answer: Nutrition
Chewing
Q6.
Name the process that all living organisms carry out to provide cells with energy.
Correct Answer: respiration, Respiration, respire, Respire, they respire

6 Questions

Q1.
A scientific drawing of a cell is what type of model
Correct answer: 2D model
3D model
Q2.
Choose the structure which is not found in an animal cell
nucleus
mitochondria
cell membrane
Correct answer: brain
cytoplasm
Q3.
Match the cell structure to a description of its job
Correct Answer:nucleus,contains DNA and controls the activities of the cell

contains DNA and controls the activities of the cell

Correct Answer:mitochondria,provides energy for the cells activities.

provides energy for the cells activities.

Correct Answer:cell membrane,controls what substances enter and leave the cell

controls what substances enter and leave the cell

Correct Answer:cytoplasm,where the chemical reactions of the cell take place

where the chemical reactions of the cell take place

Q4.
The mitochondria carry out the process of to provide the cell with energy for its activities
Correct Answer: respiration, cellular respiration, aerobic respiration, respire
Q5.
Choose the correct explanation of why models are used in science
to make complex ideas prettier to look at
to explain all ideas using a 3D model
Correct answer: to explain ideas that are hard to see or understand
to add more detail to simple ideas
Q6.
The key word used to summarise the strengths and weaknesses of a model is
Correct Answer: evaluation, evaluate, evaluating, evaluates