WHAT AM I?

BIOLOGY: Eukaryote cells.Exercise DescriptionThis exercise is designed to explore the basic components of

Eukaryotic cells. In particular students need to distinguish between animal and plant cell structure. The ‘What am I?’ game is used to stimulate discussion and determine how well students can distinguish between cell types. Students will then be tested on how well they know the organelles of plant and animal cells and for fun can be quized (ie. 1 mark for each cell diagram label). As a class the functions of a few structures can be explored. This exercise can be used in other areas of teaching.

SOURCE: http://faculty.clintoncc.suny.edu

1. WHAT AM I?

PLANT OR ANIMAL?

2. WHAT AM I?

SOURCE: www.astrographics.com

3. WHAT AM I?

www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/images/education/pl_nerve.jpg

4. WHAT AM I?

SOURCE: www.fi.edu

ANSWER SHEETThis exercise is designed to allow the students to visualize some real life cells and

there functions. Pass facilitators to ask what the functions are of the cells, do not give answers to students and if necessary there are always textbooks!

1. ONION CELLS, FUNCTION: The cell wall functions to support and protect the cell. Plants have cell walls composed of cellulose; fungi have walls composed of chitin. The cell walls of these onion skin cells can be easily seen. What is the cell wall composed of?

2. RED BLOOD CELLS, FUNCTION: Red blood cells contain the protein haemoglobin which carries oxygen around your body

3. NERVE CELLS, FUNCTION: A neuron is the fundamental unit of the nervous system, having structure and properties that allow it to conduct signals by taking advantage of the electrical charge across its cell membrane. Q-What role does the synapse have?, Explain the resting potential?, What triggers the action potential? Compare the central nervous system and the Peripheral nervous system?

4. WHITE BLOOD CELLS, FUNCTION: This cell functions in defending the body against infections and cancer cells. The white blood cells have a variety of ways by which they can attack. Some will produce protective antibodies that will overpower the germ. Others will surround and devour the bacteria.

EUKARYOTIC CELL DIAGRAMSStudents will require some mental recall in this task to name the cell

structures in the following cells. It is better if students don’t use their textbooks to label the diagram but attempt to fill in as much as they can by memory and discussion to others on their table. Facilitators can decide whether they want to include structural list or cut them off and get students to memorise the organelles entirely on their own. Discuss some of the functions of the following:

MitochondrionLysosomeRibosomesGolgi apparatus/complexCytoskeletonNucleusWhat structures are in animal cells and not in plant cells/ vice versa?

Central vacuoleChloroplastPlasmodesma/ta

Animal cell

Plant cell