Topic Eight (1.8): Plant and animal cells

Topics Icon.png Objectives

By the end of this topic you should be able to:

  • describe the similarities and differences between animal and plant cells
  • describe the functions of the components of a cell.

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

In this topic, you will learn about the differences between plant and animal cells, as well as their similarities.

Interact Icon.png Working through your coursebook

  • Read pages 28-29 in Activate 1.  
  • It is important that you can identify an animal and a plant cell and state the three extra parts that a plant cell has. You also need to know the functions (jobs) of all of the parts.  
  • To help you to answer Worksheets 3 and 4, download the PowerPoint and view it in PowerPoint or Google slides:

DOWNLOAD & VIEW - Cells PowerPoint (slides 1–7) Download DOWNLOAD & VIEW - Cells PowerPoint (slides 1–7)

  • Then:

COMPLETE - Cells and their Structure Worksheet Download COMPLETE - Cells and their Structure Worksheet

COMPLETE - The Functions of Cell Organelles Worksheet Download COMPLETE - The Functions of Cell Organelles Worksheet

  • Now focus on the seven main parts of the cell, which are shown on pages 26-27. Making cell models out of recycled rubbish or baking a cell cake, cookie or even pizza can really help you to remember the parts - make sure that you can explain why you have used different things for different organelles (e.g. cardboard box for cell wall, jelly for cytoplasm or olives for chloroplasts). Here's one cake recipe, but there are a few on the internet to choose from, or you can come up with your own:

READ - Edible Cell Cake (Instructables) Links to an external site.

Review Icon.png Review

WATCH - What is a cell? (Twig) [Not available on sample course]

COMPLETE – (Question 1) Biology 1 Vocab Builder 1 (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.

Bridge Icon.png Support activity for this topic

Watch this Revision Monkey video on animal and plant cells:

Stretch Icon.png Extension activity for this topic

These Twig videos explain how to produce an image of stained cheek cells as in Figure 1 on page 28 of Activate 1. You can watch the separate films or watch the whole experiment by clicking the icon on the far right:

EXPLORE - Plant vs animal cells (Twig) [Not available on sample course]

Download Icon.png Check your answers

CHECK - Cells and their Structure Worksheet - Mark Scheme Download CHECK - Cells and their Structure Worksheet - Mark Scheme

CHECK - The Functions of Cell Organelles Worksheet - Mark Scheme Download CHECK - The Functions of Cell Organelles Worksheet - Mark Scheme

CHECK - Student Book Answers B1 Chapter 1 (Kerboodle) [Not available on sample course]