Dunearn Secondary School

General Science for Secondary 1 Express

Chapter 6: Model of Cells – The Basic Units of Life

[Recommended Guide for the Teachers]

This theory package comprises the following activities:

Activity Learning Outcomes

Activity 6.1 1) To identify the different parts of a typical cell (plant and animal)
Organizing
Information for 2) Show an understanding that typical plant and animals cells are models
Animal and Plant used to represent their various forms
Cells
3) To infer whether an organism is an animal or a plant, based on its cellular
composition

1) To understand the functions of different parts of a typical cell, including

Activity 6.2 nucleus which contains genetic material that determines heredity
Comprehending/
Relating 2) To recognize that in multicellular organisms, cells are basic building blocks
Functions of Cell that are organized into tissues, organs and systems
Organelles
3) To explain the significance of division of labour, even at the cellular level

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.1 (Teacher’s Copy)

Chapter Model of Cells –

The Basic Units of Life
6 Activity 6.1
Organizing Information for Animal & Plant Cells
Time Estimated to complete Lesson Objectives:
worksheet: 45 mins  Identify the different parts of a typical cell (plant and animal)
 Show an understanding that typical plant and animals cells are
models used to represent their various forms
 Infer whether an organism is an animal or a plant, based on its
cellular composition

The diagrams below shows the structures of animal and plant cells as seen under the electron
microscope.

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.1 (Teacher’s Copy)

Fill in the Venn diagram to compare the structures of animal and plant cells.

Structure of Animal Cells Structure of Plant Cells

1. 2. 3.
Many small Nucleus Large vacuole
vacuoles containing cell
Cell membrane sap

Cytoplasm Chloroplast

Mitochondrion Starch grain

Cell wall

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.1 (Teacher’s Copy)

[Skill: Application of Knowledge]

Watch a short video on the Euglena! The diagram below shows the Euglena, a unicellular organism
that can be found in fresh and salt waters. The organism may bloom in numbers sufficient to color
the surface of ponds green. This diagram is drawn under a magnification of 400X.

* Circle the correct answer to complete the sentences.

From the above diagram, this cell is a/an

*animal cell because it contains a flagellum for movement / has an eyespot.

*plant cell because it contains chloroplasts / is able to photosynthesize.

The actual length of this microorganism (without its flagellum) can be estimated as 0.0285 cm.
(Hint: Measure the length of the drawing first - across the longest part of the cell: 11.4cm. Drawing is
400x of the actual length) [11.4cm / 400 = 0.0285cm]

Extension information

A unicellular organism exhibits the following characteristics of life: movement, respiration,

sensitivity, adaptability, nutrition, growth, excretion, reproduction.

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

Chapter Model of Cells –

The Basic Units of Life
6 Activity 6.2
Comprehending/Relating Functions of Cell Organelles
Time Estimated to complete Lesson Objectives:
worksheet: 60 mins  Understand the functions of different parts of a typical cell,
including nucleus which contains genetic material that
determines heredity
 Recognize that in multicellular organisms, cells are basic
building blocks that are organized into tissues, organs and
systems
 Explain the significance of the division of labour, even at the
cellular level

Cell City Introduction

The cell is the basic unit of living systems. To develop an understanding of the functional processes
that take place in a cell, it is helpful to draw an analogy to a city.

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

Different functions of cell parts: division of labour

Floating around the cytoplasm are small structures called organelles. Like the organs in your own
body, each one carries out a specific function necessary for the cell to survive.
Imagine the cell as a miniature city. The organelles might represent companies, places, or parts of
the city because they each have similar jobs.

Below are the descriptions of important parts of the Cell City.

Part of cell city Description

City border (with limits) Controls what goes into and out of a city

City Hall Controls the activities of the city

Auditor Stores all of the records of the city and passes them on as the
city grows

Supermarkets, shopping centres, Store foods, water and wastes

garbage dump site, lakes

Power station Produces energy for the city

Solar power plant Uses the sun’s energy to produce power for the city

Parks, grass, trees Fills the space between structures in a city and gives a city its
shape

Road/Highway system Allows for movement throughout the city

Waste treatment centre or food Breaks down waste into useful material or processes large
processing plant quantities of food entering the city into smaller packages that
can be used more easily

Post office Packages, modifies, sorts, and delivers products and

materials throughout the city

Planning office A place in city hall where plans are made for the construction
of the city

Construction company Builds structures for the city

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

Match the parts of the city listed on Pg 6 to the specific organelles found in cells.

No Organelle Description Which part of Function

the city does
this organelle
resemble?
1. Nucleus The nucleus is a large, round/oval City Hall Controls cell activities.
structure usually located near the
center of the cell. It is the control
centre for all activities of the cell.

2. Cell membrane The cell membrane is a thin, City border Controls substances
flexible envelope that surrounds (with limits) entering or leaving the
the cell. It allows the cell to cell.
change shape and allows some
substances to enter and exit the
cell but not others.

3. Cytoplasm The cytoplasm is the jelly-like Parks, trees, The site where most
area between the nucleus and the grass cell activities occur.
cell membrane. It fills the space
between the nucleus and the cell
membrane.

4. Mitochondrion The mitochondrion is a tiny bean- Power station Release energy

shaped structure in the stored in sugars via
(plural:
cytoplasm with a smooth outer respiration.
mitochondria)
membrane, and a greatly folded
*Note: It is found in
inner membrane.
both plant and
animal cells.

5. Chloroplast The chloroplast is an oval, green Solar power Capture the sun’s
structure found in the cytoplasm. plant energy and convert it
It contains chlorophyll. into chemical energy
in sugars through a
process called
photosynthesis.
*Note: It is found
only in plant cells.

*Take note of the underlined differences in the structure and function of mitochondrion and
chloroplast.

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 No Organelle Description Which part of Function
the city does
this organelle
resemble?
6. Vacuole The vacuole is a large, round sac Supermarkets, Contains water and
found in the cytoplasm. shopping food substances.
centres,
garbage dump
site, lakes

7. Chromosomes The chromosomes are rod- Auditor Contain information to

shaped structures found in the carry out activities in a
nucleus. They are made of DNA cell.
and protein.

Contains hereditary
(DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid) information to make
new cells.

8. In your group, write a short description of a part of the Cell City that could represent the cell wall.
The cell wall could be represented by the city wall. This is similar to the inelastic cell wall
which surrounds the cell membrane of plant cells.
The function of a cell wall is to protect the plant cell from injury and gives it a fixed
shape.
*Note: The cell wall is found only in plant cells.

Division of labour:
the breakdown of work into small and more specific tasks for maximum efficiency

in cells in multicellular organisms

Each part of a cell has a different function. Each type of cell, tissue and organ has its
specific function.

Example:
- The cell membrane controls substances Example: During exercise,
entering and leaving the cell. - the heart (organ) pumps blood around the body
- The chloroplasts enable the plant cell to - the red blood cells in blood transport oxygen to
make its own food. all parts of the body
- the muscle tissue uses energy to contract and
relax to bring about movement

Division of labour allows an organism to carry out its functions more efficiently.
.

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

Optional: Other organelles

No Organelle Description Which part of Similarities
the city does between
this organelle organelle and
resemble? this part of the
city
9. Endoplasmic The endoplasmic reticulum consists Road / highway Allows for
reticulum of a network of tube-like system movement
passageways that proteins from the throughout the
ribosomes and fats are transported city
through.

10. Lysosomes The lysosomes are small round Waste treatment Breaks down
structures found in the cytoplasm. centre waste into useful
They contain digestive enzymes that material or
break down large food particles into processes large
sugars and other simple substances quantities of food
entering the city
into smaller
packages that
can be used more
easily

11. Golgi apparatus The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, Post office Packages,
and packages proteins and other modifies, sorts,
materials for storage in the cell or and delivers
secretion outside the cell. products and
materials
throughout the
city

12. Nucleolus The nucleolus is a small, dense object Office in City A place in city hall
found in the middle of the nucleolus. It Hall where plans are
(plural: nucleoli)
makes the RNA and ribosomes for made for the
the cell. construction of
the city

13. Ribosomes The ribosomes are small grain-like Construction Builds structures
bodies made mostly of RNA and company for the city
produced in the nucleolus. Proteins
are made at the ribosomes.

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

Unicellular and multicellular organism

Some simple organisms are made up of only one cell. They are called unicellular organisms.
Examples of unicellular organisms include bacteria and some types of algae.

Most complex organisms are made up of many different types of cells. They are called multicellular
organisms. Multicellular organisms, such as humans, are made up of many organized parts. Each
part has its own structure and function.

Cell organization in multicellular organism

1) Most cells in multicellular organisms have specific functions.

For example, a single muscle cell contracts and relaxes rhythmically.

Muscle cell

2) Cells may be grouped together to carry out a specific function. A group of cells working together
to perform a specific function is called a tissue.

For example, the muscle tissue is a collection of muscle cells which helps your body to move by
contracting. Other examples of tissues are nervous tissue and bone tissue.

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

3) Different types of tissues that work together to perform a function form an organ.

For example, the stomach is an organ whose function is to temporarily store food, digest and
churn it. The stomach is made up of muscle tissue, nervous tissue, connective tissue and
epithelial tissue.

An example of an organ in plants is the root. The cross section of the root below shows that it is
made up of different tissues such as the ground tissues and vascular tissue.

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

4) Several organs with related functions work together for a specialized purpose as an organ
system.

Examples of organ system are digestive system and circulatory system.

The digestive system is made up of several organs such as the stomach and small intestine.

stomach

small intestine

large intestine

The circulatory system is made up of organs such as the heart and blood vessels (arteries,
capillaries and veins).

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

5) All the organ systems work together to enable the organism to function properly.

For example, the digestive system works with other organ systems to make up the entire
organism.

Respiratory system
(organ system)

Digestive system
(organ system)

Human (organism)

In summary, cells can be organized to eventually form multi-cellular organisms.

The example below shows how the root hair cell can be organized to form part of a plant.

< End of Theory Package for Chapter 6 >

Compulsory Workbook Questions

NA - Exercise 6.3 (All questions except Qn 6) Pg 90-92
- Review Exercise Pg 93-94
Express - Worksheet 6.1

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

Dunearn Secondary School

Secondary 1E/NA Science
Chapter 6 Cells - Review Exercise ANSWERS

Name: _______________________ Class: _________ ( ) Date: ___________

Answer all questions.

1. The figure below shows a cell.

a) i) Deduce whether the cell is a plant or an animal cell.

Plant cell [1]

ii) Explain your answer in a(i)?

Contains chloroplast / has regular shape / contains cell wall/ large central [1]
vacuole

b) Identify the following parts:

i) X: chloroplast

ii) Z: cell wall [1]

c) State the function of W and Y.

W: control cell activities

Y (cell sap): contains food substances / water/ / mineral salts [2]

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

2. Fig. 2 below shows a photomicrograph of onion epidermal cells.

Fig. 2

(a) Which organelle, normally present in plant cells, is absent in the onion epidermal cells?

Chloroplast [1]

(b) Label the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell wall in the photomicrograph.

[2]

(c) It is often difficult to identify organelles of a cell when viewed under the microscope.
Suggest one way to overcome this.

Stain the cells using solutions such as iodine, in order to see the organelles more
clearly. [1]

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Theory Package 6: Activity 6.2 (Teacher’s Copy)

3. Study the cell as shown in Fig. 3 below.

Fig. 3

(a) Explain why the cell may not live for more than a few months. [1]

It does not have a nucleus for growth and repair.

(b) Will the cell be able to make food on its own? Explain. [1]

Yes, because it contains chloroplasts (containing chlorophyll) that enable the cell to
trap light energy and carry out photosynthesis.

4. Fill in the blanks by naming the general term for each part.

5. organ system

4. organ
1. organelle

2. cell
3. tissue

6. organism

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