| Ever think about what fifth graders are made of? What about the trees that you see outside your classroom window? What about your dog? What about your baby brother? Want to find out? Continue to explore this WebQuest so that you may learn about yourCELLf! | |
  
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| Introduction These complex questions can be answered with one very short word, cells! The human body is made up of approximately 100 trillion (100, 000, 000, 000, 000) cells! Keep in mind, this figure is just an estimate. At this time, there really is no way to know the exact number of cells in a human body. Can you imagine trying to count them all? Plus, the number will vary from person to person, depending on their size. The number of cells in your own body is constantly changing, as cells die or are destroyed and new ones are formed. Think about when you scrape your knee. Cells are lost and then reproduced during the healing process. |
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 basic
structure of a cell
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Think about cells like they are little, tiny houses. Every house has different rooms that serve different purposes. We eat food in the kitchen, shower in the bathroom, and sleep in our bedrooms. Like our homes, cells are composed of many different little rooms, or compartments called organelles and each one serves a different purpose. The cell theory is a scientific theory that states: 1. All living organisms are made up of one or more cells. 2. Cells are the basic unit for function (digesting food) and structure (bones). 3. All cells come from pre-existing cells (cells that already exist). |
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So, what does this all mean? In short, we are made up of millions of cells, that each come from cells that have already existed, and each of the millions of cells that make up our bodies have their own intricate structure within the larger structure, US! It seems appropriate that we learn more about these millions of tiny structures that make up our bodies. Your Challenge Your job as 5th grade learners is to begin CELLebrating the structure of cells! Using the given websites, let's CELLebrate animal and plant cells. On a separate piece of paper, sketch the structure of the animal cell. Then, sketch and label some of the organelles that make up the animal cell. Label the animal cell with at least the following organelles (You are not limited to this list. Label more organelles if you like). Scroll down to the list of links that will help you complete the activities. Cell membrane Vacuole Nucleus Nucleolus Mitochondrion
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 Animal Cell |
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| Next, you will sketch the
structure of a plant cell. Then, draw and label some of the
organelles that make up the plant cell. Label the plant cell with
at least the following organelles (Again, you are not limited to this
list. Label more organelles if you like).
Cell membrane Vacuole Nucleus Nucleolus Mitochondrion Cytoplasm Chloroplast Cell Wall |
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| The Journey Use these websites to complete your cell structure sketches. Interactive Cell Models Cell Info Cell Theory More Cell Info |
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Great job fifth graders! 
Now, you have a great resource that tells you the structure of a plant and an animal cell as well as the organelles that they are composed of. For an extra challenge, turn over you papers and name organelles. Describe the organelles characteristics and give their function within the cell. Choose whichever organelle interests you. |
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To get even MORE information on cells, use these key words with these search engines. http://www.yahooligans.com and http://www.askforkids.com Plant cells Animal cells Cell anatomy Facts about cells What is a cell? |