UNIT 1: Cells

Lesson 1: Plant Cells

Lesson 2: Animal Cells
Lesson 3: Specialised Cells
Lesson 4: Cells, tissues and organs
 Since it took a lot of time when you write
answers during classes. Kindly write the
following answers in advance at home so we can
discuss and share more ideas at the classroom
about the lesson. You can make it shorter just
make sure the important words are still there
and understandable.

Thank you for understanding!

 Plant Cells
In this section you will Key words
Cell
• Begin to learn about cells Cell membrane
• Find out about the parts of a plant cell, and what they do Cellulose
Chlorophyll
• Make a model of a plant cells Chloroplast
Cytoplasm
Limitations
Magnify
Mitochondria
Nucleus
Sap vacuole
Parts of a plant cell
Sap vacuole
Cell wall

Cell membrane
Chloroplast

Cytoplasm
Mitochondria
Nucleus
 Parts of a plant cell

Cell wall
Every plant cell has a cell
wall. The cell wall is strong
and stiff. It holds the
plant cell ion shape.
Plant cell walls are made
of a substance called
cellulose.
 Parts of a plant cell

All cells have a cell membrane.

The cell membrane is very thin and
flexible. It is like the thin skin of a
soap bubble. It lies along the inner
edge of the wall. The cell
membrane controls what goes in
and out of the cell.

Cell membrane
 Parts of a plant cell
All cells have cytoplasm.
Cytoplasm is like clear jelly.
Chemical reactions happen inside
the cytoplasm. These reactions
keep alive.
Cytoplasm

Most cells have a nucleus.

The nucleus controls the activities
of the cell.
Nucleus
 Parts of a plant cell

Mitochondria
All plants have mitochondria
(singular: mitochondrion). Inside
mitochondria, energy is related from
food.
 Parts of a plant cell

Chloroplast
Plant cells that are in the sunlight
often contain chloroplasts. This is
where plants make their food.
Chloroplasts look green because they
contain a green substance called
chlorophyll.
 Parts of a plant cell

Sap vacuole
This is a large, fluid-filled space
inside a plant cell. The liquid inside
it is a solution of sugars and other
substances dissolved in water. The
solution is called cell sap.
Parts of a plant cell
Sap vacuole
Cell wall

Cell membrane
Chloroplast

Cytoplasm
Mitochondria
Nucleus
Questions
1. Look at the photograph of the plant cells on page 9.
What do you think the little green circles inside the cells are?
Why are they green? What happens inside them?
Answer
They are chloroplasts.
They are green because they contain chlorophyll.
This is where photosynthesis happens, where food is
made.
Questions
2. Describe four differences between a cell wall and cell membrane.

Answer
A cell wall is on the outside of the cell, but cell membrane is further in.
A cell wall is made of cellulose, but a cell membrane is not
A cell wall is strong and stiff, but a cell membrane is flexible.
A cell wall is much thicker than a cell membrane.
A cell wall helps to hold the plant cell in shape, but a cell membrane does
not.
A cell membrane helps to control what goes in and out of the cell, but a cell
wall does not.
 Animal Cells
In this section you will Key words
Stain
• Find out how many animal cells differ from plant cells.
• Use a microscope to look at some animal cells.

Getting started

There are five parts of a plant cells beginning with the letter c.
Make a list of these five parts.
Think about how you can remember what each of the words means.
Be ready to share your ideas.
 Specialised Cells
In this section you will Key words
absorb
• Learn about some specialized animal and plant cells
• Explain how the structure of these specialized cells helps
them carry out their functions

Getting started
With a partner, think of a suitable way to complete each sentence.
• Cell membranes …
• Cell walls …
• A nucleus …
• Chloroplasts …
Be ready to share your ideas with the rest of the class.
Red blood cells are smaller than most other cells in the body.
This allows them to get through tiny blood capillaries, so they
can deliver oxygen to every part of the body.
The cytoplasm contains a red pigment (colour) called haemoglobin.
This carries oxygen around the body.
The cell has no nucleus.
This leaves more space for haemoglobin.
Neurones carry electrical signals from one part of the body to
another. They help all the different parts of the body to communicate
With each other. For example, they can carry signals from the brain to
muscles, to make the muscles move.
The axon is a very long strand of cytoplasm.
Electrical signals can travel along this
very quickly.
Dendrites are short strands of
cytoplasm that collect electrical
signals from other nearby nerve cells.
Ciliated cells have tiny threads along one edge, like microscopic hairs.
These are called cilia. The cilia can move.
One place in the body that contains ciliated cells is the lining of the
tubes leading from your mouth to your lungs. Other cells in this lining
make sticky substance called mucus.
When you breathe in, the mucus traps dust
and bacteria in the air, to stop them going
into your lungs. The cilia sweep the mucus
up to the back of your mouth and you
swallow it.
Questions page 19
1. List two things that red blood cells, neurons and ciliated cells have
in common.
Cell membrane and cytoplasm
2. How can you tell that all of these three cells are animal cells, not
plant cell?
They do not have cell walls or large sap vacuoles
Questions page 19
Questions
Plants also contain specialised cells. Here are two examples.

Root hair cells are found on the outside of plant roots.

Their function is to absorb (soak up) water from the soil.
Each cell has a long, thin
extension that allows water
to move easily from the soil
into the cell.
Palisade cells are found in the
leaves of plants. Their function is
to make food by photosynthesis.
They have a lot of chloroplasts
containing chlorophyll.
The chlorophyll absorbs energy
from sunlight, which is used to
help the plant make food.
Questions page 20
3. Suggest why root hair cells do not contain chloroplasts.
They are underground where they get no sunlight, so they
cannot photosynthesise. There is therefore no need for them
to have chloroplasts.
4. Water moves through several parts of the root hair cell, as it goes
from the soil into the sap vacuole. List these parts, in order.

Cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm.