Animal cell structures and their functions
I can identify common structures of animal cells and describe what these structures do.
Animal cell structures and their functions
I can identify common structures of animal cells and describe what these structures do.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Cells have a 3D shape (not 2D as they often appear in textbooks).
- Common structures of animal cells can be shown in diagrams.
- These structures include the cytoplasm, cell membrane, nucleus and mitochondria.
- Each structure in an animal cell has a specific function.
- Cells can be represented using 2D and 3D scientific models.
Keywords
Cell membrane - The cell membrane surrounds the cell and controls what substances enter and leave the cell.
Cytoplasm - The cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance inside a cell where the chemical reactions of the cell take place.
Nucleus - The nucleus contains DNA, which stores information that controls the activities of the cell.
Mitochondria - Mitochondria use food and oxygen as fuel to provide energy for the cell in a process called cellular respiration.
Model - Scientists use models as simpler representations of complex things and ideas.
Common misconception
Cells are 2D (as they are often depicted in diagrams).
The lesson explores the 3D structure of cells, and the use of both 2D and 3D scientific models of animal cells.
To help you plan your year 7 science lesson on: Animal cell structures and their functions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 science lesson on: Animal cell structures and their functions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Cells unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Make an object bigger
Make an object clearer
Glass that magnifies and focuses an image
Exit quiz
6 Questions
contains DNA and controls the activities of the cell
provides energy for the cells activities.
controls what substances enter and leave the cell
where the chemical reactions of the cell take place