1. Cave Spring Elementary
Plant and Animal Cells
Virginia Science SOL 5.5
Kim Benzie
Cave Spring Elementary
Roanoke, VA

2. The student will investigate and understand that
Standard - Virginia Science SOL 5.5 Living Systems
The student will investigate and understand that
organisms are made of cells and have distinguishing
characteristics. Key concepts include:
a. basic cell structures and functions;
b. kingdoms of living things
c. vascular and nonvascular plants; and
d. vertebrates and invertebrates.

3. You have already learned that atoms and
Plant and Animal Cells
You have already learned that atoms and
molecules are the building blocks of matter.
Cells are the building blocks of all living things.
Even though a flower, a cat, and a grasshopper
are very different, they are all made of cells.

4. Plant and Animal Cells
Cells in living things work together to carry out all the
processes that allow an organism to stay alive.
A group of cells in your body work together to form your
circulatory system. Another group of cells work together
to form your respiratory system. Without cells, you
wouldn't be alive!

5. Cells are microscopic. They cannot be seen without a microscope.
Plant and Animal Cells
Cells are microscopic. They cannot be seen without a microscope.
When viewed through a microscope, it is possible to see that while
they are similar in many ways, there are some key differences
between plant and animal cells. They have different shapes and
some different parts.

6. Plant cells are usually rectangular in shape. They
are made up of many parts (organelles) including
the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus,
chloroplasts, vacuoles, and mitochondria.
Let's learn more about plant cells!

7. Plant Cells The cell wall gives shape and
support to the plant cell. It
surrounds the cell and protects
the other parts of the cell.
Return to cell page

8. Plant Cells Cell Membrane The cell membrane is a thin lining
just inside the cell wall. The cell
membrane controls what flows in
and out of the cell (food, waste,
water, oxygen).
Return to cell page

9. substance that fills the cell. are located in the cytoplasm.
Plant Cells
Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is a jelly-like
substance that fills the cell.
All of the cell's organelles
are located in the cytoplasm.
Return to cell page

10. Plant Cells Nucleus The nucleus is a round structure
inside the cell. It controls all of
the cell's activities. The nucleus
is the command center of the
cell.
Return to cell page

11. Plant Cells Vacuole Vacuoles are storage facilities for
the cell. The vacuoles store food
or waste that will be used (food) or
gotten rid of (waste) later.
Return to cell page

12. Plant Cells Chloroplasts are where the plant
cell's chlorophyll is stored. This
is what the plant uses to make its
own food.
Chloroplasts
Return to cell page

13. Plant Cells The mitochondria are located in the
cytoplasm. The mitochondria are the
powerhouses of the cell. They
release stored energy.
Mitochondria
Return to cell page

14. Elodia plant magnified 100X
PLANT CELLS
Elodia plant
Elodia plant magnified 100X
Onion Skin

15. Animal cells are circular in shape. They have many
of the came cell parts that plant cells do, but not
all of them. The parts of the cell perform the
same functions as in a plant cell.
Mitochondria
Vacuole
Cytoplasm
Cell Membrane
Nucleus

16. Cheek cells magnified 100X
Animal Cells
Frog blood
Cheek cells magnified 100X

17. Can you guess why animal cells don't contain
chloroplasts?
Animals don't make their own food, so they
don't need the chloroplasts. That's also why
you are not green!

18. Can you guess why your cells don't have cell walls?
Animal Cells
Can you guess why your cells don't have cell walls?
You have a skeleton to give you shape and support!
You don't need cell walls!

19. Images from: