New
New
Year 7

Multicellular and unicellular organisms

I can explain the differences between multicellular and unicellular organisms.

New
New
Year 7

Multicellular and unicellular organisms

I can explain the differences between multicellular and unicellular organisms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Unicellular organisms are made of a single living cell.
  2. Multicellular organisms are made of more than one cell (sometimes millions), and different cells take on different jobs.
  3. In multicellular organisms, cells join together to form tissues with specific jobs.
  4. An organ is a group of tissues working together to do a specific job, and organs work together in an organ system.
  5. Unicellular organisms have different structures that have adaptations to help them function and stay alive.

Common misconception

There are only two types of cell: plant and animal.

The lesson explores the cells of unicellular organisms and some of their adaptations.

Keywords

  • Unicellular - A unicellular organism is a living thing that is just one cell.

  • Multicellular - Multicellular organisms are made of lots of different types of cells.

  • Tissue - A tissue is a group of similar cells in the same place with the same job.

  • Organ - An organ is made up of a group of different tissues that work together to carry out a specific job.

  • Adaptation - An adaptation is a feature that helps an organism to function and survive.

The hierarchical organisation of multicellular organism from cell to organ system is a key concept in biology. Showing videos of living unicellular organisms can help pupils to visualise them (otherwise they may remain an abstract concept).
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
All organisms, living or dead, are made up of
Correct Answer: cells
Q2.
Which of these examples are made up of cells?
Correct answer: Plants
Correct answer: Animals
Water
Correct answer: Fungi
Q3.
Starting with the smallest put these structures in order of size
1 - Molecule
2 - Cell
3 - Tissue
4 - Organ
Q4.
Cells are too small to view with the unaided eye, a is used to magnify them.
Correct Answer: Microscope, micrscope
Q5.
Match these common processes of cells to the correct definition
Correct Answer:Movement,Changing location itself to achieve something for survival

Changing location itself to achieve something for survival

Correct Answer:Nutrition ,Using food and other nutrients to stay alive

Using food and other nutrients to stay alive

Correct Answer:Reproduction ,Making offspring

Making offspring

Correct Answer:Sensitivity,Taking information from and responding to surroundings

Taking information from and responding to surroundings

Correct Answer:Respiration,Using food as a fuel to provide energy

Using food as a fuel to provide energy

Q6.
Choose two techniques that should not be used in a scientific line drawing of a cell
Continuous lines
Correct answer: Sketching
Labelling
Correct answer: Shading

6 Questions

Q1.
An organism made of one cell is called?
Correct Answer: unicellular, uni-cellular, uni cellular
Q2.
Choose two correct reasons that a unicellular organism is called living
Correct answer: It can move to find nutrition
It can breathe
Correct answer: It can sense changes in its surroundings
It can think
Q3.
An organism that is made up of lots of cells joined together is called
Correct Answer: multicellular, multi-cellular, multi cellular
Q4.
Starting from the smallest put these structures in size order
1 - molecule
2 - cell
3 - tissue
4 - organ
Q5.
Match the keyword to the correct definition
Correct Answer:Cell,Smallest living unit that carries out the common processes

Smallest living unit that carries out the common processes

Correct Answer:Tissue,Similar cells, with a similar job, that work together

Similar cells, with a similar job, that work together

Correct Answer:Organ,Different tissues that work together to carry out a job

Different tissues that work together to carry out a job

Q6.
Choose which one of the tissues that would not appear in a stomach
Muscle tissue
Epithelial (lining) tissue
Elastic tissue
Correct answer: Palisade tissue