Every living thing is built from cells — and a cell works like a tiny factory, with different parts doing different jobs. Today you'll meet those parts, then you will predict which one does what.
Before we start — you already know plants and animals are alive — what do you think every living thing is built from?
Every living thing is made of cells. Each cell is wrapped in a cell membrane that controls what goes in and out, and is filled with a jelly called cytoplasm. Floating inside are little machines called organelles, each with its own job.
The nucleus is the control centre — it holds the instructions (DNA). The mitochondria release the cell's energy. The tiny ribosomes build proteins.
Plant cells have everything animal cells have, plus three extras: a stiff cell wall for support, green chloroplasts that make food from sunlight, and a big vacuole for storage. Both kinds still have a nucleus.