Name: edHelper

What Is a Cell?

Cells are the building blocks of all living things. A cell is the smallest part of a
living thing that carries out actions that keep the thing alive. Some living things are
made of only one cell-they are unicellular. People are multicellular. The human
body is made of more than one hundred trillion cells!

Cells are usually placed into two groups. There are cells with a nucleus and cells
without. Cells without a nucleus are very simple cells. The cells of bacteria lack a
nucleus. The cells of plants and animals do have a nucleus. Cells are also classified
as either plant or animal cells.

All cells are filled with cytoplasm. This jelly-like fluid has many chemicals in it
that help the cell stay alive.

Structures inside the cell carry out the cell's functions. These structures are called organelles. Organelle means
"little organ." Organs in your body like your heart and lungs carry out actions that keep you alive. Organelles in
cells have jobs, too. Plant and animal cells have organelles that are similar. Each organelle in both plant and
animal cells is enclosed by a membrane.

Plant cells have two different organelles that animal cells do not. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall and
chloroplasts. Chloroplasts allow plants to make their own food.

Most cells, both plant and animal, have a nucleus. (One cell that doesn't is the red blood cell.) The nucleus is
called the cell's command center. It controls the cell's actions. It contains the DNA. DNA is the genetic material
that lets cells make more of themselves and pass on their traits to new cells.

Every cell has a cell membrane. The membrane holds the parts of the cell together. It keeps the cytoplasm
inside. It provides a barrier between the cell and its surroundings.

Mitochondria (might-oh- KAHN-dree-uh) are the organelles in a cell that convert food into energy.
Vacuoles are places to store supplies like water until the cell needs them. Wastes and food can be stored, too.
There are many other organelles. Each has a job to do.

All living things are made of one or more cells. Plant and animal cells are alike in many ways. All cells have
jobs to do that keep living things alive.
 Name: edHelper

What Is a Cell?

Questions
1. The smallest part of a living thing that carries out actions that keep the thing alive is ______.
A. a cell
B. an atom
C. an organ
D. a molecule

2. The jelly-like fluid inside a cell is the ______.

A. cytoplasm
B. cell membrane
C. organelle
D. chloroplast

3. Plant cells and animal cells have many of the same organelles.
A. true
B. false

4. Organelles are ______.

A. called little organs
B. parts inside a cell that carry out actions that keep the cell alive
C. parts of a cell like the chloroplast and the vacuole
D. all of the above

5. What is DNA?

6. Which of these is a fact?

A. Plant cells have some organelles that animal cells do not.
B. People have organelles like the heart and lungs.
C. Animal cells have some organelles that plant cells do not.
D. Only animal cells have a cell membrane.

7. What does "multicellular" mean?

8. What does the prefix mean in the word "unicellular"? Do you know any other words with that prefix? What
does that word mean?
 edHelper
Name:
How many of these can you write about? Think! Write! Check all the ones you answered.
Compare a cell to a human body. How are they alike? How are they different?

Write five sentences that are facts about cells.

Don't stop writing. Use a blank piece of paper to continue.

 edHelper
Name:
Write the hidden word. Start at one letter How many digits are in the
and then move either left or right. 483 number of days in the current
- 1 00 month?
A I N O
L
M
What time is 17 hours after 2:00
p.m.?
T 43
I
+ 34
E S T

Circle all of the words that are spelled correctly.

obstacles ruhoos connect churd mentoin

banquet occesions gentle

pardon program safes cabbage stage

temporary hilarious lidge

flims soluhtehre ridicule cetral tailor

blossoms control paralyze

dismay charity uxpend overrule passages

How many grams are in 3 kilograms? Use a dictionary to find the correct
pronunciation of this word. Write that
grams pronunciation on the line.
hygiene

Write the missing family fact. How far do you think it is from
the ground to your chin? 45
5 x 23 = 115 Write an estimate of the - 1 2
115 ÷ 23 = 5 distance you think it could be.
23 x 5 = 115

Circle the relative adverb.

why, until, if, so
word root glyc can mean sweet glucose
 edHelper
Name:

+ 285 709

1,167

+ 285 + + + + 709
1,537
806
806 + 285 806 + 806 + 806 + 806 + 709
660 1,106

+ 285 + + + + 709
1,229 665

+ 285 + + + + 709
972
306
306 + 285 306 + 306 + 306 + 306 + 709
833 1,257

+ 285 + + + + 709

1 lb = 16 oz
8 x 11 = 6 km = m
17 lb = oz