The document describes the major organelles found in animal cells, including the cell membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and vacuoles. It explains the basic functions of each organelle and provides analogies to compare them to objects and systems familiar to children, such as a coffee strainer, power plant, workplace, mail delivery service, garbage trucks, storage spaces, and town hall. The document uses a story format to imaginatively guide children through a cell and describe each organelle in simple, child-friendly language.
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Organelles in an Animal Cell:"
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1. Cell Membrane = The cell membrane controls which substances enter and leave the
cell. Everything that a cell needs including water, oxygen and food travel through the
cell membrane. Moreover, it also lets things out of the cell such as waste. In
addition, it helps fend off harmful things from entering the cell. All cells contain cell
membranes, but for animal cells in particular they also form a barrier between the
inner cell and the outside environment. "
2. Nucleus = The Nucleus functions as a supreme command for the cell. It provides
instructions for every single activity that the cell does. These instructions are found
in chromatin which are located in the second layer of the Nucleus. Everything that
travels into and out of the Nucleus go through the nuclear envelope and travels in
the nuclear pours. The inner most part of the nucleus is called the nucleolus. The
nucleolus produces the ribosomes* found in the cell. "
3. Mitochondria = Mitochondria are the organelles in the cell that help convert energy
found in food particles to energy that can be used by the cell. "
4. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum = Mostly referred to as the (R.)E.R, the rough
Endoplasmic Reticulum is (mostly) where ribosomes* produce proteins. It also
serves as a pathway throughout the cell."
5. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum = The Smooth E.R lacks ribosomes*, but produces
other products such as lipids. Same as the Rough E.R, the Smooth E.R serves as a
pathway throughout the cell. "
6. Golgi Apparatus = The Golgi Apparatus takes all of the proteins produced in the E.R
and sends them out to the cell. "
7. *Ribosomes (not an organelle) = Ribosomes are the parts of the cell that produce
proteins and energy for the cell to use. They are mainly located in the Rough E.R,
but are also sometimes found in the cytoplasm. "
8. Cytoplasm (not a organelle) = The cytoplasm is a jelly like structure that acts as a
floor for everything located in the cell. "
9. Lysosomes = Lysosomes dispose and break down any not useful materials found in
the cell. "
10. Vacuole = The vacuole is a storage space for the cell that holds food and water. "
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2. Page 2
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Come and join Me in our wonderful
adventure, to the cell, an awesome venture!!
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3. Page 3
Come on kids, first we will visit the Cell
Membrane!!
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The Cell Membrane is like your coffee
strainer, it helps you sort out things you do
not want from coming in. It also is similar to
your raincoat. It help protect you from the
chilly and wet weather of the outside. !
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4. Page 4
Next we will visit the mighty mitochondria!!
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The mighty mitochondria works like the
power plants in you town. It helps create
power so that the cell can do important
things.!
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5. Page 5
We are now passing through the Endoplasmic
Reticulum. I know it is hard to pronounce so
you can just call it the E.R.!
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The E.R has two parts. One, the ROUGH
part and two, the SMOOTH part. !
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6. Page 6
The Rough E.R has Ribosomes on it.
Ribosomes are the things in the cell that
produce proteins for the cell too use for
energy. !
The rough E.R is similar
to a work place or a
power outlet. It is like the
floor for the ribosomes to
create proteins on and it
also assists the ribosomes
in making proteins. The
ribosomes are like
machines because produce a lot of proteins
and because
most of the
time they are
“plugged into”
the E.R. It also
helps move the
proteins. !
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7. Page 7
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The Smooth E.R does not contain any
ribosomes. It mainly serves as a pathway for
the proteins but also produces lipids, or in
simpler words fats.!
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The smooth E.R is almost exactly like the
Rough E.R (without ribosomes), therefore it
is also similar to a work place. !
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8. Page 8
We have now arrived at the Golgi Apparatus!!
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The Golgi Apparatus readies the proteins that
are produced in the E.R. It is similar to the
UPS, or any mail company, it takes the
“packages” sorts them, wraps them and sends
them out.
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9. Page 9
Uh Oh! Watch out kids! Make shore you do
not get eaten up by the lysosomes. Quickly!!
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Lysosomes are like the garbage men and
trucks in your town. They dispose of any
thing that is not
useful or that is not
supposed to be in the
cell. !
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10. Page 10
We have now arrived at the vacuole. The
vacuole is a storage space in the cell. It holds
materials like water and food. !
The vacuole is like any local storage space in
your home, your refrigerator, the closet and
even a drawer in your kitchen or desk. !
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11. Page 11
Last but not least, we are now at the powerful
Nucleus. The Nucleus controls everything
that goes on in the cell. It sends out orders
for things like reproduction, protein
production and other general actions. !
It has three main layers/parts: 1. The Nuclear
Envelope 2. Chromatin 3. The Nucleolus.!
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12. Page 12
The nuclear envelope is the outer most layer
and contains nuclear pours for things to travel
out of the nucleus. The second layer is called
the chromatin. It contains all of the
instructions for the cell’s actions. The third
and final layer is called the Nucleolus. The
Nucleolus produces ribosomes. !
The nucleus is like the town hall. It runs the
whole “city” and creates “jobs” for workers. !
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