B Barber
Science Coordinator

Partner Primary & Secondary Schools
John Paul, Nazareth, Padua, St John's Reg. Colleges & Partner Primary

Science
Middle Years Science Program - Practical Activities

Middle Years Science Program

 

"Animal & Plant Cells" Return to list of pracs

Aim: This activity is illustrate animal and plant cells.

Method: Use the handout or develop it as an overhead.

Background knowledge: The animal and plant cell contains various "organelles" which are tiny organs within the cell. Some of the main organelles include...

  • Nucleus = this houses the reproductive material and is necessary to maintain cell metabolism and functions
  • Vacuole = the water storage device for the plant
  • Mitochondria = energy production in the cell
  • Chloroplast = organelles (small scale "organs" within a cell) responsible for photosythesis (the process of converting sunlight (solar energy) into chemical energy for the plant to use)
  • Golgi bodies = a series of membrane channels that allow certain metabolic functions to take place free from other hindering chemical material.
  • Cell wall = providing protection and support for the cell's contents.
  • Cytoplasm (or plasma) = liquid within the cell.

Comparison of animal and plant cells :
1. cell wall (in plant cells only)
2. chloroplasts (in plant cells only)
3. vacuoles (a few small ones in animal cells; large in plant cells)
4. size.