5th Grade Science
Cells and Microorganisms
Unit 3
Cells and Microorganisms
We Are Made Up of Cells
All living things are made up of cells, which is the smallest unit that can be alive. We observe these cells using microscopes. An organism may be unicellular, consisting of one single cell. An organism may also be multicellular, meaning they consist of many different numbers and types of cells. In this unit, we dive deep into the large world of cells and microorganisms!
Check This Video Out!
There is a lot you'll learn in this unit about the amazing world of cells, so as an introduction, check out this video! It covers the basics you must know before diving deeper into this microscopic world.
Real Life Application
Want to see multi-cellular organisms and single-cellular organisms in action? Check out this gross video! It shows the decomposition of multi-cellular organisms by single-cellular organisms.
You can actually observe this at home too! If you have any old, moldy food at home, now you know that it's because of the process of decomposition by singular-celled organisms!
Prokaryote vs Eukaryote
A prokaryote is a single cell or organism that does NOT have organized nuclei. Eukaryotes are cells with a nucleus and all sorts of organelles, and are multicellular.
To learn more, here are some very helpful links! http://www.biology4kids.com/files/micro_prokaryote.html http://www.biology4kids.com/files/micro_eukaryote.html
Plant Cells vs Animal Cells
Plant Cells
Plant cells are the basic unit of life in organisms of the kingdom Plantae. They are eukaryotic cells.
Animal Cells
Animal cells are the basic unit of life in organisms of the kingdom Animalia. They are eukaryotic cells.
So... What's The Difference?
A plant cell contains a large, singular vacuole that is used for storage and maintaining the shape of the cell. In contrast, animal cells have many, smaller vacuoles. Plant cells have a cell wall, as well as a cell membrane. In plants, the cell wall surrounds the cell membrane. In contrast, animal cells only have a cell membrane, but no cell wall.
Try these interactive games to learn more about cells and also to test your knowledge! https://www.centreofthecell.org/learn-play/games/
Check Out This Video!
Now, we know the difference between a plant cell vs. an animal cell, but what are organelles? An organelle is a part of a cell that does a specific job. Organelles typically have their own plasma membrane around them. Most of the cell's organelles are in the cytoplasm.
Take a deeper dive into the cell structure by watching the video to the left!
Did You Know? The name organelle comes from the idea that these structures are to cells what an organ is to the body. This is a super easy way to remember the definition of an organelle and what it does!
Let's Try a Lab!
Check out this video and carefully follow the instructions. This will be a good exercise for learning about the different organelles and the difference between plant cells and animal cells! Remember to take pictures of your lab and write down your observations.
Think you got it down? Try this Quizizz to test your knowledge! Replay it as many times until you get your highest score, and if you ever have any trouble, go back to this page and review the videos and lessons.