Teach students about the fundamental units of life with these engaging plant and animal cell worksheets! Using this guide, teachers and parents can introduce budding scientists to the world of cell biology and use leveled worksheets to encourage their learning. These are designed for grades 6th, 7th, and 8th.
1. Why study cells?
Introduce your students to the importance of cell biology! Cells are the basic building blocks of all living organisms. They are responsible for essential functions necessary for life, such as growth, development, and day-to-day maintenance. Understanding the structure and function of cells provides learners with insight into the complexities of their own bodies and the living organisms all around them.
2. Discern animal and plant cells
Cells are at the basis of every living thing, but how can they be so differentiated? Different types of animal cells, for example, can form muscles, eyes, or teeth, and different plant cells can form flowers, fruits, or seeds.
Students can learn about the distinctions between plant and animal cells with this Animal Cells vs. Plant Cells worksheet. Using a Venn Diagram format, the worksheet will guide them through choosing which organelles are found in plant cells, animal cells, and both.
With this initial activity, they’ll gain a general understanding of the differences between the two cells before moving on to more complex exercises.
3. Label plant cells (levels 1 and 2)
Start your deeper dive into learning about plant cells, the foundation of all plant life, including the trees outside and the potted houseplants at home.
These two levels of plant cell worksheets will have young learners label the distinct organelles found in plant cells, such as the cell wall, chloroplasts, and the central vacuole. By identifying these structures, they’ll gain a deeper understanding of how plants use photosynthesis to harness sunlight and produce energy.
Level 1 is a great introduction to the basics of plant cells, and is available in both interactive (digital) and print formats! Once they’ve mastered the first worksheet, they can move on to Level 2 for a more comprehensive view of all the organelles. If they’d like added enrichment, students can assign a color to each of the organelles and then color in the diagram.
3. Label animal cells (levels 1 and 2)
Next up, learners can explore the realm of animal cells. While similar to plant cells in many ways, animal cells possess distinct organelles tailored to their unique functions.
Using these two animal cell worksheets, students will discover interesting structures like the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The Level 2 worksheet builds on Level 1 by asking students to label the animal cell in more detail using additional organelles in the word bank.
Science teachers and parents alike can utilize these worksheets to help kids discover how animal cells generate energy, process nutrients, and support the complex functions of multicellular organisms.
These plant and animal cell worksheets help biology students actively engage with learning material through labeling, coloring, and answering questions. Teachers and parents can use them to introduce middle schoolers to cell structures and their functions and reinforce their understanding of cell biology.
Let’s nurture the next generation of scientists and cell-ebrate science together!
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