Plant Cells

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Observe &Wonder Starter

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ReviewActivities

Plant Cells

Observe: Describe at least 3 things you notice about this plant cell under a microscope. Wonder: What is one question you have based on your observations?

Page 1 of 34

Select the plants in the diagram.

6 Kingdoms of Life

All forms of life are made up of a basic unit called cells. In this lesson, we’ll focus on the cells that make up plants.

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Page 2 of 34

Select one of the plant cells.

Plant cells under a microscope

Whether it’s a tree, a vegetable plant, or a cactus, all plants have cells that work together to help the plant grow, absorb sunlight, produce food, and support the overall structure of the plant.

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Page 3 of 34

Plant cell under a microscope

Build Model of a Plant Cell

Within a cell, there are many tiny parts, each playing a crucial role in keeping the cell functioning properly. Let’s build a model of a plant cell to better understand these parts.

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Page 4 of 34

Add Cell Wall

First up, we need a cell wall. The cell wall provides structure and protection, helping the plant stand tall.

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Page 5 of 34

Hover over the label to learn more.

cell wall

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Page 6 of 34

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cell wall

Next, let’s add the cell membrane. It sits just inside the cell wall and controls what enters and exits the cell, allowing nutrients in, keeping harmful substances out, and maintaining the balance needed for the cell to survive.

Add Cell Membrane

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Page 7 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

cell wall

cell membrane

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Page 8 of 34

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cell wall

cell membrane

Next, let’s add the cytoplasm—the jelly-like substance that fills the cell and holds everything in place.

Add Cytoplasm

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Page 9 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

cytoplasm

cell wall

cell membrane

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Page 10 of 34

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cytoplasm

cell wall

cell membrane

Now it's time to add the organelles—specialized structures within the cell that perform specific functions. Let's start with the nucleus, the control center of the cell, which houses the DNA and directs all the cell’s activities.

Add Nucleus

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Page 11 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

cell wall

cell membrane

cytoplasm

nucleus

Page 12 of 34

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cytoplasm

cell wall

cell membrane

nucleus

Next, let’s add the chloroplasts. Chloroplasts use energy from sunlight to make glucose, a type of sugar, through the process of photosynthesis.

Add Chloroplasts

Page 13 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

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cytoplasm

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

nucleus

Page 14 of 34

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cytoplasm

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

nucleus

Next, let’s add the mitochondria. Mitochondria (singular: mitochondrion), known as the powerhouses of the cell, convert glucose made in chloroplasts into ATP, the energy the cell needs to function.

Add Mitochondria

Page 15 of 34

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cytoplasm

mitochondrion

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

nucleus

Page 16 of 34

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Now, let’s add the vacuole. The vacuole is the storage tank of the cell, holding water, nutrients, and waste. In plant cells, it helps keep the cell firm.

mitochondrion

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

nucleus

cytoplasm

Add Vacuole

Page 17 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

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mitochondrion

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

vacuole

nucleus

cytoplasm

Page 18 of 34

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mitochondrion

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

vacuole

nucleus

cytoplasm

Now, let’s add the ribosomes. Ribosomes are tiny factories in the cell that follow instructions from the cell’s DNA to build proteins, which are essential for the cell to function and stay healthy.

Add Ribosomes

Page 19 of 34

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mitochondrion

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

ribosome

vacuole

nucleus

cytoplasm

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Page 20 of 34

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nucleus

mitochondrion

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

ribosome

vacuole

cytoplasm

Add Endoplasmic Reticulum

Next, let’s add the endoplasmic reticulum. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has two parts: the rough ER, which has ribosomes and serves as passageways to transport proteins where they’re needed in the cell, and the smooth ER, which makes lipids and breaks down toxins.

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Page 21 of 34

nucleus

Hover over the labels to learn more.

mitochondrion

chloroplast

cell wall

cell membrane

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

vacuole

cytoplasm

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Page 22 of 34

ribosome

nucleus

endoplasmic reticulum

Hover over the labels to learn more.

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

Add Golgi Apparatus

Now, let’s add the Golgi apparatus. The Golgi apparatus is like the cell’s post office—it packages and ships proteins and lipids to where they need to go, either inside or outside the cell.

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Page 23 of 34

endoplasmic reticulum

Hover over the labels to learn more.

vacuole

nucleus

ribosome

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 24 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Review Question 1 of 10

Great job on building the plant cell model! Now, let's go over what you've learned.

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 25 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

Review Question 2 of 10

vacuole

nucleus

ribosome

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

endoplasmic reticulum

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Page 26 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Review Question 3 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 27 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Review Question 4 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 28 of 34

Hover over the labels to learn more.

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Review Question 5 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 29 of 34

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Hover over the labels to learn more.

Review Question 6 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 30 of 34

endoplasmic reticulum

nucleus

ribosome

Review Question 7 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 31 of 34

Page 31 of 34

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Review Question 8 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 32 of 34

Page 32 of 34

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Review Question 9 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

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Page 33 of 34

Page 33 of 34

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Review Question 10 of 10

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

Select the review activities button below to practice what you've learned.

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Page 34 of 34

Page 34 of 34

nucleus

ribosome

endoplasmic reticulum

Great job learning about plant cells! Each part plays a vital role in keeping the cell—and the whole plant—alive and healthy. By working together, these parts help the plant grow, produce energy, and stay strong.

vacuole

chloroplast

mitochondrion

Golgi apparatus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

cell wall

ReviewActivities

Game Show

Labeling

Matching

Plant Cell Review Activities

Show Plant Cell Diagram

Drag the cards to "tape" together the plant cell organelles with their descriptions.

Show Plant Cell Diagram

Correctly label the plant cell organelles and select the check button in the bottom right corner.

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