Name: _________________
date: ______________
Galoob /Biology
Period: __
“Cells Alive” Web Quest
Purpose: In this activity, you will discover different kinds of cells. You will learn about
specific cell structures and their function.
Procedure:
1. To begin go to www.cellsalive.com
2. Select “Cell Biology” from the left hand menu
3. Visit the “How Big is a…?” section of the site to get a better perspective on the variations
of cell size. You should see an image of a person holding a pinhead.
Part A. HOW BIG IS A...."
Here you will look at objects found on the head of a pin. Your job is to rank them in order of
size on the chart below and estimate the length of each (in nanometers, micrometers, or
millimeters). The line in the bottom right corner of the screen is used to help you estimate.
You do not need to record this information on this sheet.
Part B. LABEL DIAGRAMS
Next, under Cell Biology, click on Cell Models and select “Bacterial Cell”. In this section you
will discover the significance of the bacterial cell and its parts!
5.
4.
6.
2.
1.
Explain the function of the labeled parts # 1-6:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
3.
Now select the “Plant and Animal Cell Animation” link from the top of the page. Once there, click on the
Animal Cell and label the following parts below.
1.
12.
2. (the whole thing) =
(stringy stuff inside) =
9a.
9b.
3.
7.
4.
11.
5
6.
5.
.
8.
7. After looking at the bacteria cell and the animal cell, which is more complex? Circle.
8. Is the animal cell a prokaryote or a eukaryote? Circle.
Part C: ANIMAL CELL MODEL
For this model, you will need to click on the various parts of the cell to go to a screen that tells
you about the parts. Answers to the following questions are found there
Animal Cell Model - For this model, you will need to click on the various parts of the cell
to go to a screen that tells you about the parts. Answers to the following questions are
found there.
1. What do mitochondria do?
Sketch each of the following.
Mitochondria
2. How big are mitochondria?
3. What does the Golgi Apparatus do?
Rough ER
4. What is the difference between smooth and rough
ER?
Plasma membrane
5. Where specifically is the nucleolus found?
7. What does the cytoskeleton do?
8. Cytosol goes by what other name?
Lysosome
9. What is the function of the cytosol?
Golgi Apparatus
10. What is the function of the lysosome?
11. What is the main function of the plasma membrane
Plant Cell Model - (you will need to return to the "Cell Biology" link to access this page,
or hit your back button)
.
5.
9
4.
1.
.
.
9. (outside membrane)
2. (the whole thing) =
(stringy stuff inside)=
3.
6.
10.
12.
.
8.
7.
Plant Cell
1. What is the nucleus seen in both the animal and
plant cell made of, what is so important about it?
Sketch the following
Nucleus
2. What is the specific function of the nucleolus?
Chloroplast
3. What are ribosomes involved with?
4. What is the cell wall made of and what is its
function?
Vacuole
5. What makes the plant cells green?
6. What is the function of chloroplasts?
4. In plant cells, what does the vacuole do?
Overview For the chart below, place a check in the box if the cell has that component.
Plant
Chloroplast
Vacuole
Ribosome
Mitochondria
DNA
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Cell Wall
Cell membrane
nucleus
Animal
Bacteria
Web resources
Cells Alive! http://www.cellsalive.com/index.htm
Biology4kids: http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_main.html
Virtual Cell biology: http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/tour/cell/cell.htm
Typical Animal and Plant cells:
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/miramesa/Organelles/animal.html
Cellular Biology: Cell structures and functions:
http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html#centrioles’
Inside a cell: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/cell/
Cellular Organization:
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookCELL2.html
Interactive animations:
http://www.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0470003790/animations/cell_structure/cell_structure.htm
Online quizzes etc:
http://www.zerobio.com/drag_gr11/organell.htm
http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/westmin/science/sbi3a1/Cells/cellquiz.htm
http://webinstituteforteachers.org/~halliepeskin/2003/activity3.html
http://webinstituteforteachers.org/~halliepeskin/2003/activity4.html
Name: _________________
Galoob /Biology
date: ______________
Period: __
“Cells Alive” Web Quest
Purpose: In this activity, you will discover different kinds of cells. You will learn about
specific cell structures and their function.
Procedure:
4. To begin go to www.cellsalive.com
5. Select “Cell Biology” from the left hand menu
6. Visit the “How Big is a…?” section of the site to get a better perspective on the variations
of cell size. You should see an image of a person holding a pinhead.
Part A. HOW BIG IS A...."
Here you will look at objects found on the head of a pin. Your job is to rank them in order of
size on the chart below and estimate the length of each (in nanometers, micrometers, or
millimeters). The line in the bottom right corner of the screen is used to help you estimate.
You do not need to record this information on this sheet.
Part B. LABEL DIAGRAMS
Next, under Cell Biology, click on Cell Models and select “Bacterial Cell”. In this section you
will discover the significance of the bacterial cell and its parts!
5.
Nucleiod (DNA)
4.
6.
flagella
2.
1. Plasma membrane
3.
Cell wall
Explain the function of the labeled parts # 1-6:
1. plasma membrane: regulates transport of materials into or out of cell
2. capsule: protects the bacterial cell
3. cell wall: maintains the shape of the bacteria
4. ribosomes: translate messenger RNA into proteins
5. nucleoid: DNA not in a nuclear membrane
6. flagella: helps cell move.
Capsule
Ribosomes
Now select the “Plant and Animal Cell Animation” link from the top of the page. Once there, click on the
Animal Cell and label the following parts below.
1. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
12. Lysosomes
2. the whole thing: Nucleus
Stingy stuff inside: DNA, Chromatin
9a Microtubules
9b. Filaments
3. Cytosol (cytoplasm)
7. Mitochondria
5. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
11. Peroxisomes
10. Nucleolus
6. Vacuole
4. Cell membrane
8. Golgi
7. After looking at the bacteria cell and the animal cell, which is more complex? Circle.
8. Is the animal cell a prokaryote or a eukaryote? Circle.
Part C: ANIMAL CELL MODEL
For this model, you will need to click on the various parts of the cell to go to a screen that tells
you about the parts. Answers to the following questions are found there
Animal Cell Model - For this model, you will need to click on the various parts of the cell
to go to a screen that tells you about the parts. Answers to the following questions are
found there.
1. What do mitochondria do? Provides energy to the cell.
Power center!
2. How big are mitochondria? They are about the size of a
bacteria cell.
3. What does the Golgi Apparatus do? The golgi packages
macromolecules for transport.
4. What is the difference between smooth and rough ER?
The rough ER has ribosomes all around it.
Sketch each of the following.
Mitochondria
5. Where specifically is the nucleolus found and what does it
do? The nucleolus is found in the nucleus and it produces
ribosomes that are important part of making proteins.
Rough ER
7. What does the cytoskeleton do? The cytoskeleton s made
of microtubules microfilaments and helps the cell maintain
shape and helps with cell movement.
8. Cytosol goes by what other name? Cytoplasm
Plasma membrane
9. What is the function of the cytosol? Cytoplasm is the
fluid that fills the cell and where cellular metabolism
happens
10. What is the function of the lysosome? Lysosomes have
enzymes that help digest things like bacteria in white
blood cells.
11. What is the main function of the plasma membrane?
Lysosome
The cell membrane is a double layer of lipids which is a
protective barrier that regulates what goes into and out
of the cell.
Golgi Apparatus
Plant Cell Model - (you will need to return to the "Cell Biology" link to access this page,
or hit your back button)
.
9. Cytoskeleton (microtubules and
filaments)
5. Cell membrane
4. rough endoplasmic reticulum
smooth endoplasmic reticulum
.
.
9. (outside membrane) Cell Wall
2. whole thing: nucleus
Stringy stuff: Chromatin / DNA
3. Cytoplasm
6. Vacuole
10. Nucleolus
12. chloroplast
.
7. mitochondria
8. golgi apparatus
Plant Cell
1. What is the nucleus seen in both the animal
and plant cell made of, what is so important
about it?
The nucleus is a membrane that contains
chromatin and a nucleolus. It is important
because it contains the DNA/chromatin
which determines the cells characteristics.
2. What is the specific function of the
nucleolus?
The nucleolus is found in the nucleus and
it produces ribosomes that are important
part of making proteins.
Sketch the following
Nucleus
3. What are ribosomes involved with?
Ribosomes are involved with translating
messenger RNA into making proteins.
4. What is the cell wall made of and what is its
function? The cell wall is made of cellulose
and it maintains the cell shape and
protects the cell.
Chloroplast
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSU8m94TkZgioMrbStPi_5o04THvP4it-lH-41Zs5x2ra6Bfc&t=1&usg=__Ty6GSpsaGN4wTIN2Klc8CIYRAI=
Vacuole
5. What makes the plant cells green?
chloroplasts
6. What is the function of chloroplasts? They
are where photosynthesis takes place.
4. In plant cells, what does the vacuole do? The
vacuole stores nutrients and waste and water.
Overview
For the chart below, place a check in the box if the cell has that component.
Plant
Animal
Chloroplast
X
Vacuole
X
X
Ribosome
X
X
Mitochondria
X
X
DNA
X
X
Endoplasmic Reticulum
X
X
Cell Wall
X
Cell membrane
X
X
nucleus
X
X
Bacteria
some
X
X
X
X
OTHER EXAMPLE WEBQUEST:
Name___________________________________________Block_______Date_____________
Cell WEBQUEST: An interactive journey into the cell!
Answer the following questions. You do not have to answer these questions in complete sentences, but
your answers should be complete with details and information!

Go to: http://askabiologist.asu.edu/research/buildingblocks/cellparts.html
1) How many different kinds of cells are in your body? ________________
2) What parts of our bodies are made of dead
cells?_______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____

Go
to: http://www.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0470003790/animations/cell_structure/cell_structure.h
tm

Click on “Animal Cell” Read the text and follow the directions. (Click on each organelle and read about
what it does)
3) Name and define 3 of the organelles that we are learning about.
a)
b)
c)

Click “continue” and answer the “Pop-up Questions.” When you are finished, click on “Plant cell” and read
the text.
4) Which organelle in the plant cell would mainly help the cell take in water or get rid of water, just like the
potato did? This is also known as “osmosis.” How do you know that this organelle would help with that
process?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
5) Which organelle, if empty, would cause the plant to wilt? Why is this?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
6) Name an organelle that you see in the plant cell that you did not see in the animal cell.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
7) Why do you think an animal cell does not have the part that you name in #6?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____

http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model.htm and go to “Plant Cell” first.

Click around the plant cell and look/read about some other organelles. Then, click on the “Animal Cell.”
Click on the different parts and read about them.
8) Why is the rough endoplasmic reticulum so “rough?”
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
9) Think about your house, condo or apartment. What part of your home would be like the mitochondria of
the cell? Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____

Go to the left column of the page and click on “Cell Biology” and go to “How big?…” and click on “Start the
Animation”
10) How big is a blood cell? How does its size compare to Dust Mites, and then to the E. coli bacteria?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____

Go to the left column of the page and click on “Mitosis.” Watch this animation.
11) Which of the 8 characteristics of life is the cell doing here?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____

Go back
to http://www.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0470003790/animations/cell_structure/cell_structure.ht
m and click on “Construct a cell” First, construct an animal cell.
12) Name a part that does NOT BELONG in the animal cell (as you figured out during construction)
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
13) Construct the plant cell next. Name a part that DOES BELONG here but didn’t belong in one of the other
2 cells.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
Cell Disorders and Diseases… Go
to http://www.umdf.org/site/c.otJVJ7MMIqE/b.5692879/k.3851/What_is_Mitochondrial_Disease.h
tm
14) How is a person’s life affected by mitochondrial disease?

_________________________________________________________________________________
_____

Go to http://www.pompe.com/patient/learning/pc_eng_pt_lsds.asp
15) What organelle does “Pompe Disease” affect in the cell, and how does this disease affect someone’s life?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____
Games and Activities…

http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/westmin/science/sbi3a1/Cells/cellquiz.htm and try this quiz!

http://www.cellsalive.com/puzzles/index.htm and try the word puzzles at the bottom of the page!

http://webinstituteforteachers.org/~halliepeskin/2003/activity3.html plant cell labeling

http://webinstituteforteachers.org/~halliepeskin/2003/activity4.html animal cell labeling

http://darwin.nmsu.edu/~molbio/cellgame/cellpin.html animal cell labeling

http://darwin.nmsu.edu/~molbio/cellgame/CellGamePlant.html plant cell labeling

http://science.nhmccd.edu/BIOL/biolab/cell.htm animal cell labeling