Life and Ecosystems

What is Inside of a Cell?

The Cell RapYou can find me in the lab

with a pen and a pad

I'm the mad scientist

but I ain't mad

Checkin' out my scope

Lookin' at some cells

tryin' to teach these kids

about the organelles

The Cell Rapand the kids say

“Teacher, what is a cell?"

they think it's a phone

or a room at the jail

so I tell ‘em bout the nucleus

it's acting like a brain

protected by a nuclear membrane,

The Cell Rapand the ribosomes

are so small to be seen

they make sure everybody in the cell gettin' protein

From the cell membrane

to the cell wall (cell wall)

it's cytoplasm y'all

(it's cytoplasm y'all)

The Cell Rap

Now things in the cytoplasm are mello

it's water, it's gel, it's jelly, it's jello

and there's vacuoles all over the place

storing up the water, food, and waste

The Cell Rapand the kid's say

“Teacher, your rhyme is tight"

you mean the one about the building blocks of life

I never thought I could be a star

just by rapping about the E.R.

The Cell Rap

and this rhyme's so hot

that it's a powerhouse

so call me mitochondria

and yo, I'm out

Remember:A cell is the smallest unit of any living

thing. The structures found inside cells each have a specialized job.

Cells and Living Things• Every living thing is made up of one or more

cells.• Cells are the basic building blocks that make up

all living things.• Cells have the same needs as any living thing.• Cells use the nutrients and energy in food to

grow.• Some organisms are just one cell.• Many are made of more than one.

http://www.bodyabcs.com/cartoons/kittens-and-balloons/book-html/book006.html

Cell Parts

• Cells have many parts that allow the cell to grow, get energy, divide, and do its job.

Draw this chart in your notebook.

Cell Membrane• The cell membrane is the soft, flexible

covering that surrounds the cell and holds the parts of the cell together.

• It allows materials—water, sugar, oxygen—to enter. Also allows materials—carbon dioxide and waste—to exit.• The cell membrane protects the cell!

Nucleus• The nucleus is the part of the cell that controls

how the cell grows, changes, and does its job in the body.

• The nucleus is the CONTROL CENTER.• How could the nucleus of a cell be like our

brain?

Cytoplasm

• The cytoplasm is the gel-like material between the cell membrane and the nucleus.

• Many cell parts are located in the cytoplasm.

Vacuoles• Vacuoles are cell parts that are used to store

materials such as food and water.• They can sometimes act like a stomach, storing and

breaking down material.• They can also store wastes until the cell can get rid of

it.• They are found in the cytoplasm.

Mitochondria

• The mitochondria is the cell part where energy is made.

• Remember: Mighty Mouse, Power House.

Let’s Label

• Time to practice—Let’s see if you can label these parts of a cell.

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/cell/cell.html

Teacher:See the 5 Star Lesson Plan on THE CELLlocated on the staff shared drive under

curriculum, 5th grade