Our Homeschooling Expedition

Lesson 2 – Plant cells

Materials:  blank plant parts worksheet from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/label/plant/

Microscope and onion

Basic parts of a plant cell worksheet from http://www.edhelper.com/teachers/plants_A_plant_cell.htm

Answers here: http://www.edhelper.com/teachers/plants_A_plant_cell1.htm   (upper grades)

 http://www.edhelper.com/teachers/plants_Parts_of_a_plant.htm  (for lower grades)

Vocabulary Words: cell wall, chloroplast, cytoplasm, membrane, mitochondria, nucleus, vacuole, cellulose, cell sap, organelles, chlorophyll, chromoplasts

This handout shows the different parts of a plant.  As we learn about each part of the plant we are going to fill in the name of that part.  But today we are going to be learning about plant cells.  Plant cells are the tiniest part of a plant and they connect together to make up each part of a plant.  And I have a special diagram for the plant cell.

Read the Usborne Internet Linked Science Encyclopedia pgs. 250-251

Or you could find a book from the local library.

Now have students fill worksheet – basic parts of a plant cell

Internet activities:

Interactive plant cell http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model.htm this a more in-depth version of a plant cell

Images of different plant cells – http://www.uri.edu/artsci/bio/plant_anatomy/images.html#lab_2

Here the kids can use a virtual microscope to look at a plant cell.

http://www.purchon.com/biology/xylem.htm

Here they can watch different slide shows on plant cells and get some general information. **Note** Due to some slide shows that could be clicked on I strongly suggest parental supervision while using this site.

http://lgfl.skoool.co.uk/keystage3.aspx?id=63

Hands on Activities

1. See for yourself

You’ll need a microscope and an onion.  You’ll want to slice the onion, take one segment from the onion.  Now with tweezers remove the thin membrane that covers it and place on slide.  Now place it on the microscope lighting it from beneath.  You should be able to see the nucleus and cell walls.

2. Crossword. http://www.edhelper.com/Plants151.htm

3. For older students.

Have them do some independent research on cell division or specialized cells and write a short report.