CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
INTRODUCTION: Just as an atom is the basic unit of all matter, the cell is the basic structural unit in a living organism. All life forms on our planet are made up of cells.
Cells allow living things to obtain and use energy, respond to the environment and reproduce.
TASK: Your task will be to choose a living organism that must be a multicellular animal.
Starting with the “big picture” you will explore how your organism is put together from its systems to organs to tissues to cells. Once inside the cell you will identify the organelles and their functions as well as describe how they work together.
PROCESS: You and your partner will pick and sign up for a multicellular animal. You may choose a mammal, fish, bird or reptile. With regard to your animal, you will answer the topic questions below. You may not pick an animal that has been chosen by another group.
TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED:

Describe your animal. Is it a herbivore, omnivore or a carnivore? Where does it live, what does it eat and include a picture.

How is your animal put together? Start from the outside and work your way down to the smallest unit, the cell. Your description should identify the systems, kinds of tissues and kinds of cells that are in your organism.


As an animal, you may eat plants or eat other organisms that eat plants. How are your cell organelles different than the plants? How are they the same? Why do plant cells function differently than animal cells? Include photosynthesis and cellular respiration in your explanation.
 Using a graphic organizer, arrange the order in which an organism is “built” from the cellular level up to its systems.

If you were a tiny organelle yourself that directed the other organelles much like a conductor directs an orchestra to do their jobs, what would your “symphony” be like? Write a creative short story that describes the function of the organelles in the cell and how you would direct
“everyone” to perform their tasks. You will need to include the plasma membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi
Apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, centrioles and cytoplasm. Be sure and also include the roles of DNA and RNA.
Prior knowledge:

The difference between herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

How to construct a graphic organizer.

Basic functions of cellular organelles.

How to create a PowerPoint presentation.

Organisms are made up of systems that are made up of organs, made up of tissues, made up of cells.
Resources:
Cells Alive! An interactive model for both plant and animal cells. http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model.htm
Cell Organelle table: Describes organelles for plant and animal cells. http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/CURR/science/sciber00/7th/cells/sciber/orgtable.htm
Journey into the cell: Animated video with organelle description. http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=cell%20organelles&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.micr
osoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wv#
Holt Biology Book: Contains information to compare and contrast cellular organelles and research animal structures.
Biology for Kids: Describes the progression from cell to tissue to systems. http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_main.html

Slide no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
Points
Description
Title page with the names of team members
Describe your animal. Is it a carnivore, omnivore or herbivore? Where does it live, what does it eat. Include a picture.
Describe how your animal is put together from the outside in. Include systems, kinds of tissues and kinds of cells that are in your organism.
How are animal cells different than plant cells?
How are they the same? Why do plant cells function differently than animal cells? Include photosynthesis and cellular respiration in your answer.
Design a graphic organizer that shows the order in which an organism is “built” from the cellular level up to its systems.
Creative story to include:

Plasma membrane

Nucleus

Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Golgi Apparatus

Endoplasmic reticulum

Centrioles

Cytoplasm

DNA

RNA
15
20
105
Points possible
5
25
15
25
Check

Team members: _____________________________________________
Slide no.
1
2
3
4
5
Total
Points
Description
Describe your animal. Is it a carnivore, omnivore or herbivore? Where does it live, what does it eat. Include a picture.
Describe how your animal is put together from the outside in. Include systems, kinds of tissues and kinds of cells that are in your organism.
How are animal cells different than plant cells?
How are they the same? Why do plant cells function differently than animal cells? Include photosynthesis and cellular respiration in your answer.
Design a graphic organizer that shows the order in which an organism is “built” from the cellular level up to its systems.
Creative story to include:

Plasma membrane

Nucleus

Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Golgi Apparatus

Endoplasmic reticulum

Centrioles

Cytoplasm

DNA

RNA
15
25
Points possible
25
15
20
100
Points earned