Specialized Cell Structures You will notice on each slide there is an “” bullet. With each class, discuss and choose analogies that are helpful to your particular group of students. Each student does not necessarily have to have the same ; it should be meaningful to them. Due to variations in graphics, you may wish to refer to the research materials your students used for graphics or use large diagrams/posters displayed in the classroom to point out the major structures.

Cell Wall Description: Rigid outer layer Outside of cell membrane Function: Support Protection Helps cell maintain its shape Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Cell Membrane Description: Outside covering of cell made of lipid bilayer Function: Barrier between cell and its environment Controls what substances can enter or leave the cell Provides support and protection, especially in cells without a cell wall Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Ribosomes Description: Function: Made of protein and RNA Very small, spherical shaped Function: Make proteins Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Cytoplasm Description: Jelly-like substance that fills the cell and surrounds the organelles Function: Fills space between organelles Contains materials needed by the organelles Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Flagella Description: Function: Long, thread-like extension of a cell Helps cell move Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Cilia Description: Short, hair-like projection on the cell surface Function: Used to sweep away things from the cell surface or help the cell move through fluid Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Nucleus Description: Function: Core, central portion of cell Contains genetic information (DNA) Directs cell activities Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Nuclear Membrane Description: Function: Double-layer membrane surrounding the nucleus Function: Separates nucleoplasm from cytoplasm Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Nucleolus Description: Function: Round structure within nucleus Made of protein and RNA Function: Makes ribosomes Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Chloroplast Description: Function: Oval or bean shaped structure with green color Function: Helps capture sunlight to produce food (energy) for plants Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Golgi Apparatus Description: Flattened sacs called cisternae Function: Modifies and packages materials created in the cell for transport (inside or outside of the cell) Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Lysosome Description: Small sacs Function: Use digestive enzymes to breakdown old/worn-out organelles, viruses or bacteria, and/or food particles Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Mitochondrion Description: Function: Spherical or rod-shaped Inner and outer membranes Function: Converts sugars into ATP (energy) for the cell Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Plastid Description: Function: Double-membrane bound organelle Involved in food storage; function depends mostly upon which pigments are present Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum Description: System of membranous tubes and sacs with ribosomes on the surface (making it appear rough) Function: Helps make and transport new proteins to Golgi apparatus or outside of the cell Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum Description: System of membranous tubes and sacs Function: Makes lipids Creates and stores steroids Stores ions that cells might need Metabolizes carbohydrates Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Vacuole Description: Function: Sacs: smaller in animal cells, larger in plant cells Function: Store a variety of things such as water, nutrients, or waste products Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.

Vesicle Description: Function: Small sacs Stores, transports, or digests materials within the cell Allow the selected student/group to report first, then share the information on the slide with students. Make sure they know they can add to or modify information on their charts if needed.