Lesson 2: Parts of Animal & Plant Cells
Name __________________________ Date ____________
Lesson Overview (5E Model)
Engage — Bell Ringer (5 minutes)
Milestones-Style Multiple Choice
1) Which structure is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?
A. Cell wall B. Nucleus C. Cell membrane D. Mitochondria
Quick Intro (Read Aloud) — Your body is made of tiny cells. Plants are also made of cells. Today you will find and name the main parts of cells and compare plant and animal cells.
Explore — 5-Minute Demo + 20-Minute Lab (25 minutes)
5-Minute Demo: “Wall vs. Membrane”
Materials: 1 zip-top bag, 1 small rectangle box (or tissue box), sticky note (green), marker.
- Show the bag: “This is like a cell membrane. It is thin and flexible.”
- Slide the bag into the box: “Plants also have a cell wall outside the membrane. It is stiff and helps the cell keep its shape.”
- Place a green sticky note inside: “Plants have chloroplasts that make food with sunlight.”
20-Minute Hands-On Lab: Paper-Plate Cell Models
Goal: Build one animal cell and one plant cell model. Label the parts and tell what each part does.
Materials per team (common classroom items): 2 paper plates, 1 sheet of green paper, 1 sheet of blue paper, markers, glue stick, scissors, ruler, scrap cardstock for a rectangle, small dry beans or pasta (optional for organelles), tape, label strips (provided below).
Animal Cell (Round)
- Use a paper plate as the cell shape. Draw a smooth border for the cell membrane.
- Color the inside lightly to show cytoplasm.
- Cut a medium circle from paper and glue it as the nucleus. Add a small dot for the nucleolus.
- Add 3–4 small ovals (paper or pasta) for mitochondria.
- Glue 2–3 small circles for vacuoles.
- Add neat labels.
Plant Cell (Rectangular)
- Cut a rectangle of cardstock. Draw a thick border to show the rigid cell wall. Inside it, draw a thin line for the cell membrane.
- Shade the inside for cytoplasm.
- Add a medium circle for the nucleus.
- Glue several small green rectangles/circles for chloroplasts.
- Cut a large blue rectangle in the center for the big central vacuole.
- Add 3–4 small ovals for mitochondria. Add neat labels.
Data Table (Record What You See)
| Cell Part | What it does (function) | Plant cell? | Animal cell? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell wall | Stiff outer layer that gives shape and support | ✔ Yes | ✖ No |
| Cell membrane | Thin skin that controls what goes in and out | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Nucleus | Control center with DNA | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Cytoplasm | Gel-like filling that holds parts | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Chloroplast | Uses sunlight to make food (photosynthesis) | ✔ Yes | ✖ No |
| Vacuole | Storage for water and materials | ✔ Large central | ✔ Small |
| Mitochondria | Makes energy for the cell | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
Explain — Vocabulary & Misconceptions (10 minutes)
Key Words (student-friendly)
- Cell wall: stiff outer layer in plant cells.
- Cell membrane: thin layer that controls what enters and leaves.
- Nucleus: control center with instructions.
- Cytoplasm: jelly-like filling.
- Chloroplast: green part that makes food from sunlight.
- Vacuole: storage space.
- Mitochondria: powerhouse that makes energy.
Common Misconceptions (clarify together)
- “Only plant cells have energy makers.” — False. Both have mitochondria.
- “Animal cells have cell walls.” — False. Only plants have cell walls.
- “All vacuoles are big.” — False. Plant cells have one big vacuole; animal cells have several small ones.
- “Chloroplasts are in animal cells.” — False. Chloroplasts are only in plant cells.
Quick-Check (Milestones Style)
- One-Part MC: Which part controls what enters and leaves the cell?
A. Nucleus B. Cell membrane C. Chloroplast D. Vacuole - Two-Select (Select TWO correct): Which parts are in both plant and animal cells?
A. Cell wall B. Nucleus C. Chloroplast D. Mitochondria
Elaborate — Apply Learning (10 minutes)
Partner Card Sort: Cut out the label strips below. Sort them into “Plant Only,” “Animal Only,” and “Both.” Glue to a notebook page.
| Label Strips (cut apart) |
|---|
| cell wall | cell membrane | nucleus | cytoplasm | chloroplast | vacuole | mitochondria |
| large central vacuole | small vacuoles | makes food from sunlight | flexible outer layer | powerhouse |
Quick-Check (Milestones Style)
- Matching: Draw lines or write the letter.
A. Chloroplast — ____ 1. Control center
B. Vacuole — ____ 2. Makes food from sunlight
C. Nucleus — ____ 3. Storage - MC: Which picture would best show a cell with a stiff outer layer and green parts?
A. Animal cell B. Plant cell C. Bacteria D. Virus
Evaluate — Exit Ticket (5 minutes)
- Which two parts help a plant make and store food? Choose TWO.
A. Cell wall B. Chloroplast C. Vacuole D. Nucleus - What is the main job of the cell membrane?
A. Make food B. Store water C. Control what enters and leaves D. Hold DNA - Circle all that are in both plant and animal cells: cell wall, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplast, mitochondria.
- Fill in the blank: The __________ is the control center of the cell.
- Short answer (1–2 sentences): Explain one way a plant cell is different from an animal cell.
Answer Key
Engage Bell Ringer
1) A. Cell wall
Explain — Quick-Check
1) B. Cell membrane | 2) B and D (Nucleus and Mitochondria)
Elaborate — Quick-Check
3) A→2 (Chloroplast→Makes food), B→3 (Vacuole→Storage), C→1 (Nucleus→Control center)
4) B. Plant cell
Exit Ticket
- B and C (Chloroplast, Vacuole)
- C. Control what enters and leaves
- Both: nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria
- Nucleus
- Sample correct ideas: Plant cells have a cell wall; plant cells have chloroplasts; plant cells have a large central vacuole; animal cells do not have chloroplasts or a cell wall.
Time Guide
| Phase | Minutes | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Engage | 5 | Bell ringer + intro |
| Explore | 25 | 5-min demo; 20-min lab models |
| Explain | 10 | Vocabulary, misconceptions, quick-check |
| Elaborate | 10 | Card sort + quick-check |
| Evaluate | 5 | Exit ticket |
Cut-Out Labels (for models)
| cell wall | cell membrane | nucleus | cytoplasm |
| chloroplast | vacuole | mitochondria | large central vacuole |
Standards Alignment (Georgia GSE)
- S5L3.b: Compare and contrast plant and animal cells — addressed in demo, lab models, card sort, exit ticket.
- S5L3.c: Identify major parts and describe functions — addressed in vocabulary, data table, quick-checks.
Reading level: Grade 5. This page is formatted for printing.