Cell Investigation
Purpose of Lesson
Students will learn the different organelles present in plant and animal cells to
distinguish between plant and animal cells.
Performance Objectives
This lesson fits the grade seven topic, “Cells and Heredity.”
1. Students will be able to describe the anatomy and physiology of plant and
animal cells and their major organelles including the cell wall, cell membrane
nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and vacuoles (meets South Carolina
standard 7-2.1)
2. Students will be able to compare the major components of plant and animal
cells (meets South Carolina standard 7-2.2)
3. Students will practice using a microscope properly (meets South Carolina
standard 7-1.1)
Materials
To complete this activity, the students will need to use compound microscopes to
view plant and animal cells. Microscope slides and cover slips, wooden toothpicks,
methylene blue, pipe cleaners, tape, foam shapes, and scissors will also be necessary
to complete this activity.
Description of Activity
Students will first complete the pre-activity worksheet, and then they will make
microscope slides of plant cells and human cells. To make the animal cell slide, the
students will scrape the inside of their cheeks with wooden toothpicks and will add
a drop of methylene blue to stain the cells to make them easier to see. The students
will place a cover slip over the cheek cells. To make the plant cell, the students will
be given a thin slice of an aquarium plant leaf or stem, and they will make a
microscope slide of the leaf to observe the plant cells (To save time, the plant cells
can be premade by the instructor prior to the lesson). The students will then
observe each slide under the microscope followed by a discussion noting the
similarities and differences between each type of cell, and the instructor will
provide the names of the different organelles. Based on the students’ observations
of the organelle structures, the students will discuss the function they think each
organelle serves, and the instructor can adjust the students’ conclusions as
necessary. The students will then use pipe cleaners and foam shapes to model the
organelles based upon their observations under the microscope and the class
discussion. The students can tape their models onto a piece of paper (tag board
works well). The instructor can help the students to label their models by drawing
a plant cell and an animal cell on the board and labeling the organelles. The
students can draw arrows to their foam shapes and pipe cleaner shapes for a visual
representation of the terms for the organelle. Students will then complete the postactivity worksheet.
Pre-Activity
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1. How are these organisims similar? Think in terms of the cells that make up
each.
2. How are these organisms different? Think in terms of the cells that make up
each.
3. If possible describe how are plant cells and animal cells different using the
terms cell wall, vacuole, cell membrane, mitochondria, and chloroplast.
Post-Activity
2
1
1. Which of the above pictures is from an animal cell? How do you
know?
2. Which of the above pictures is from a plant cell? How do you know?
3. Using the T-chart below, put the following terms in the correct column
(some terms may be used in both columns): nucleus, cell wall, cell
membrane, vacuole, chloroplast, mitochondria
Plant Cell
Animal Cell