New
New
Year 7

Plant cell structures and their functions

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

New
New
Year 7

Plant cell structures and their functions

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Plant cells have some common structures.
  2. Some of these structures are common with animal cells, such as the cytoplasm, cell membrane, nucleus and mitochondria.
  3. Plant cells have additional structures including the cell wall and vacuole, and some have chloroplasts.
  4. Each structure in a plant cell has a specific function.
  5. Plant cells can be adapted with different shapes and structures.

Keywords

  • Cell wall - The cell wall of a plant cell is made of fibres that strengthen the cell but allow substances to pass through.

  • Chloroplast - Chloroplasts are structures found within cells in the green parts of a plant. They trap light to enable the plant to make its own food.

  • Vacuole - The vacuole of a plant cell contains watery sap which, when full, keeps the cell firm.

Common misconception

Plants are not living; plant cells all have the same shape and structures (as depicted in textbooks)

This lesson consolidates understanding that plant cells are living, and that different plant cells can have different shapes and structures.

An alternative task to those suggested in the lesson is for pupils to build models of plant cells and then peer evaluate them. This can help make cells seem less abstract and develop awareness of the different shapes and structures of plant cells.
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.
All living organisms are made up of the building blocks of life. These are called...
Correct Answer: cells, cell
Q2.
Choose the structure that controls which substances can enter and leave a cell.
An image in a quiz
nucleus
Correct answer: cell membrane
cytoplasm
mitochondria
Q3.
The contains the DNA in an animal cell and controls the cell's activities.
Correct Answer: nucleus
Q4.
In which part of an animal cell does respiration take place?
An image in a quiz
nucleus
Correct answer: mitochondria
chloroplast
cytoplasm
Q5.
Plants are living organisms. Which common life processes do plants carry out at some stage in their life cycle?
Correct answer: Movement
Breathing
Correct answer: Nutrition
Thinking
Q6.
Match the letter label on the animal cell diagram to the name of the structure.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:A,cell membrane

cell membrane

Correct Answer:B,mitochondria

mitochondria

Correct Answer:C,cytoplasm

cytoplasm

Correct Answer:D,nucleus

nucleus

Q2 UYSEG Q6 UYSEG

6 Questions

Q1.
All plants are made up of living building blocks called...
Correct Answer: plant cells, cells
Q2.
Choose the structures that animal and plant cells both contain.
chloroplast
Correct answer: mitochondria
Correct answer: nucleus
vacuole
Q3.
Match the plant cell structure with a description of its function.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:Chloroplast,Where light is absorbed to help the plant make its food.

Where light is absorbed to help the plant make its food.

Correct Answer:Vacuole,Contains a watery sap and helps to keep the cell firm.

Contains a watery sap and helps to keep the cell firm.

Correct Answer:Cell wall,Made of fibres to strengthen the cell.

Made of fibres to strengthen the cell.

Q4.
Choose the structure in a plant cell that controls which substances can enter and leave the cell.
cell wall
Correct answer: cell membrane
vacuole
Q5.
Which structures do plant and fungi cells have that animal cells do not have?
nucleus
cell membrane
Correct answer: cell wall
Correct answer: vacuole
Q6.
In a plant cell from a root, you would not expect to find , as these trap light so they wouldn't be needed in cells underground.
Correct Answer: chloroplasts, chloroplast
Q3 UYSEG