Download Comparing plant and animal cells

topic: Cells
activity: Comparing plant and animal cells
Students explore the differences between plants and animals at both a macroscopic and cellular level.
Suggested time: 25 minutes
Summary of Key Learning Points
Students:
- identify the similarities and differences between plants and animals at a macroscopic level
- compare plants and animals at a cellular level
- summarise the similarities and differences between plants and animals
Comparing plant and animal cells
5 minutes
Students start by looking at a mongoose in a natural setting, so both an animal and a plant are visible. They
are prompted to think about how animals and plants differ in their behaviour. It would be good to get
students to brainstorm their ideas about all the ways that animals and plants are similar and different.
Hopefully they will recognise that both possess the seven characteristics of living things, but plants can
photosynthesise and animals move a lot more. Some animals also need to maintain a constant body
temperature.
Answers:
Animals: Rapid movement
Both: Respiration, excrete waste, grow, reproduce
Plants: Photosynthesis (Inquiry point 1)
The next page shows an animal cell and a plant cell. Now, students compare the two cells and they can also
think about other cells they might have seen under the microscope.
Answers:
Shape: Different
Colour: Different
Organelles: Some different (Inquiry point 2)
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topic: Cells
activity: Comparing plant and animal cells
Exploring plant cells
5 minutes
Students examine a plant cell more closely and think about which organelle makes them look green.
Answer: Chloroplasts (Inquiry point 3)
The Science extra on photosynthesis shows the chemical equation for the process.
Talking point: What do the numbers in the formulas mean? Also look at the Science extra on respiration.
This looks like the direct opposite of photosynthesis, but is it?
Comparing plant and animal cells (2)
5 minutes
Students then think about which organelle animal cells need more of. Emphasise to students that animals
need far more energy than plants.
Answers:
Mitochondria (Inquiry point 4)
Animal cell (needs more mitochondria) (Inquiry point 5)
Exploring animal cells
5 min
Looking at the animal cell close up allows students to complete a drag drop exercise.
Answers (in order): a lot more, have no, large, have no (Inquiry point 6)
Comparing plant and animal cells (3)
5 minutes
Students finish the activity by looking at a venn diagram that summarises similarities and differences
between plant and animal cells. After reading the diagram, students enter challenge mode and gradually
reconstruct the diagram by making the correct choices. They can re-try the challenge as many times as they
like.
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topic: Cells
activity: Comparing plant and animal cells
Suggested completion levels
Basic - Inquiry point goal = 2
Students at this level will: identify one similarity and one difference between plants and animals at both the
macroscopic and cellular levels.
Core - Inquiry point goal = 4
Students at this level will: identify at least two similarities and two differences between plants and animals at
both the macroscopic and cellular levels.
Advanced - Inquiry point goal = 6
Achieve all inquiry points. Students at this level will: identify at least three similarities and three differences
between plants and animals at both the macroscopic and cellular levels.
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