Station #1
• Students will study the nucleus.
• The nucleus is an organelle that is only found
in eukaryotic cells.
• The nucleus contains the DNA of a cell. It
protects the DNA from digestive enzymes
found in the cytoplasm.
• The nucleus has pores to let proteins enter
and leave the cell.
Station #1
• Structure #1 is the nucleus. Write that in on
your sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. What kind of cells have a nucleus?
2. What biomolecule does the nucleus contain?
3. Why does the nucleus protect this molecule?
Station #2
• Students will study the ribosomes.
• The ribosomes are organelles that produce
ALL of the proteins within a cell.
• ALL cells, even prokaryotic cells, have
ribosomes.
• Ribosomes are found in two places in the cell:
attached to the endoplasmic reticulum and
free-floating in the cytoplasm.
Station #2
• The structures at #2 are all ribosomes. Write
that on your sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. What do ribosomes do?
2. Do bacteria have ribosomes?
3. Do animal and plant cells have ribosomes?
4. Where can you find ribosomes in the cell?
Station #3
• Students will study the rough endoplasmic
reticulum.
• The rough ER is a structure that contains many
of the ribosomes in eukaryotic cells. You will
not find it in prokaryotic cells.
Station #3
• Structure #3 is the rough ER. Write that on
your sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. What kind of cells have a rough ER?
2. What organelles does the rough ER contain?
Station #4
• Students will study the smooth endoplasmic
reticulum.
• The smooth ER is an organelle that is used to
process toxins and create hormones within
the cell.
• You will only really see the smooth ER in
specialized tissue designed to process toxins,
like liver tissue – or organs related to
hormones, such as the sex organs.
Station #4
• Structure #4 is the smooth ER. Write that in
on your sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. What two roles does the smooth ER do?
2. Name two organs that would have the
smooth ER.
Stations #5
• Students will study the Golgi apparatus.
• The Golgi apparatus is an organelle that sorts
and transports molecules in the cell.
• The Golgi is only found in eukaryotic cells.
• Molecules are often tagged with proteins that
direct them to the correct part of the cell.
Station #5
• Structure #5 is the Golgi apparatus. Write that
on your sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. What role does the Golgi play in the cell?
2. How does it direct molecules around?
Station #6
• Students will study the cell membrane.
• As discussed in biomolecules, the cell membrane
is composed of lipids. Specifically, lipids mixed
with phosphorus – phospholipids.
• The cell membrane separates the external and
cellular environments. It is soft and flexible.
• The cell membrane contains many receptors for
binding to other molecules. It also has transport
proteins, for importing and exporting molecules.
Station #6
• Structure #6 is the cell membrane. Write that
on your sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. What biomolecules make up the bulk of the
cell membrane?
2. Is the cell membrane soft and flexible, or
hard and rigid?
3. What other structures are found in the cell
membrane (name two!)?
Station #7
• Students will study the mitochondria.
• Mitochondria are specialized organelles that
create ATP through cellular respiration. ATP is
a molecule used for energy in eukaryotes.
• ATP is required to activate enzymes and
expand muscles.
• Because mitochondria enable cellular
respiration, eukaryotes can produce energy
more efficiently than prokaryotes.
Station #7
• Structure #7 is a mitochondrion. Write that on
your sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. Mitochondria create what energy molecule?
2. What is the process that creates that
molecule?
3. Only eukaryotes have mitochondria. Because
of that, are they more or less efficient at
producing energy?
Station #8
• Students will study the lysosomes.
• The lysosomes are small bubbles, or vesicles
that contain strong digestive enzymes. These
organelles are mostly found in animal cells.
• Lysosomes are used to digest food, wastes and
other foreign compounds.
• If all the lysosomes in a cell ruptured, the cell
would digest itself!
Station #8
• Structure #8 is a lysosome. Write that on your
sheet.
• Answer these questions:
1. Lysosomes contain ____________________.
2. Lysosomes are found mainly in _________
cells.
3. What do lysosomes digest?