Lesson: Cell Structures and Membranes

How do the structures within cells and cell membranes help to regulate their functions?

This lesson identifies the structures within cells and their functions. Students will begin to relate organelles to larger intra-cellular and inter-cellular processes.

    1. Recognize the basic structures (anatomy) of a cell.

    2. Understand the functions (physiology) of the cell organelles and other structures.

This lesson also describes the composition, structure and regulation of the cell membrane. Students will examine how the membrane is responsible for the transfer of materials and discuss specific diseases that result from the disruption of membrane structures.

Lesson: Cell Membrane

    1. What organic molecules compose the cell membrane, and how are they arranged within the membrane?

    2. What is the essential difference between passive and active transport?

    3. What molecule carries energy within a cell?

    4. Compare and contrast diffusion and osmosis.

    5. What is filtration?

    6. Understand the terms hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic and explain how a cell will behave when placed in such a solution (lyse/crenate/no change).

    7. What organic molecule makes up ion pumps?

    8. Differentiate between pinocytosis and phagocytosis.

    9. Understand the pathology of cystic fibrosis: cause, symptoms, treatment.

Warm Ups:

Organelle Matching

Organelle Function

Practice Quiz

Cell Membrane


Instruction, Presentations, Assignments, Activities, etc:

Notes - Cell Structures

Diagram - Plasma Membrane

identify the four main components of the cell membrane

  1. Carbohydrate Chains- cell signalling on outside of membrane

  2. Phospholipid- Phosphate with 2 fatty acid- "head" polar/hydrophilic and "tails" non-polar/hydrophobic - form a bilayer in an aqueous solution

  3. Cholesterol- 4-linked rings of hydrophobic lipid- structural support within membrane

  4. Protein- structural support or funcional (transport, signalling, cell products/enzymes)

Fluid Mosaic Model: small pieces that are in constant motion

Diagram - Basic Cell

Closure- Haiku :A traditional form of Japanese poetry that follows a format. It normally contains 3 lines and a total of 17 syllables.

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

Haiku often explore or include themes involving nature or natural elements.

Compose a haiku about an organelle that creatively also expresses information about its structure and/or function.

Assessment: Quiz- organelles (Identify structure AND function)

Assignment: Membrane Transport Questions

Chart - Membrane Transport