Parts of a Cell in Spanish (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)
Cells are the foundation of life. Your body, organs, and every living organism on the planet are made of either a single cell or a large collection of them. They have the capacity to regenerate, make copies of themselves, and restore damaged tissue.
For students, studying cells is key to understanding how the human body functions. Like any other Spanish science topic for kids, it’s important to simplify such a complex lesson into information that’s manageable, engaging, and easy to follow.
So, how do you teach your students the parts of a cell in Spanish?
Read this lesson to find all you need to know about the parts of a cell in Spanish and their functions. It’s full of vocabulary and fun classroom activities for 4th and 5th graders.
Table of Contents:
- What Is a Cell?
- Types of Cells in Spanish
- Parts of a Cell in Spanish
- Labeled Parts of a Cell in Spanish
- Parts of a Cell in Spanish Activities and Worksheets
- Enrich Your Child’s Spanish Skills
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What Is a Cell?
La célula (cell) is a microscopic unit that carries properties that make any living organism come alive.
Las células and its parts carry out specific functions related to nutrition, metabolism, response to stimulus, processing information, reproduction, and growth.
Cells are marvelous and in constant activity. Scientists have been studying cells for a long time and even use them as alternative therapies for many conditions.
El tamaño de las células (the size of cells) varies. Some are visible at a glance, while others are so tiny you need un microscopio (a microscope) to see them.
See also: Invertebrate Animals in Spanish
Some living organisms are unicelulares (single cell), meaning they are made of one single cell. Others are pluricelulares (multicellular) and contain a large number of different types of cells.
Bacteria, amoebas, hongos (mushrooms), and algas (algae) are unicelulares. In contrast, vertebrate animals, trees, and humans are pluricelulares.
Teach your students the parts of a tree in Spanish and their functions.
Types of Cells in Spanish
Las células are classified into two groups: eucariotas (eukaryotes) and procariotas (prokaryotes). Let’s examine them in detail.
Prokaryotic cells – Células procariotas
These are the smallest type of cells. They were the first life forms on our planet. All living organisms made of prokaryotic cells are unicelulares.
Eukaryotic cells – Células eucariotas
These are larger and more complex cells. They make up multicellular as well as single-cell organisms. There are two main types of eukaryotic cells: célula vegetal (plant cell) and célula animal (animal cell).
Vegetable Cells – Células vegetales
Las células vegetales form plants, including trees.
These cells enable fotosintesis (photosynthesis). In this process, plant roots absorb sunlight, process nutrients, and produce oxygen. These cells also absorb clorofila (chlorophyll), a substance that provides pigment to plants.
Learn more about photosynthesis in The Science of Plants and Soil for Kids.
Animal Cells – Células animales
Las células animales are cells of animal origin. Unlike vegetable cells, this type of cell doesn’t go through photosynthesis. Its functions depend on its parts.
Parts of a Cell in Spanish
Although there are similarities between the types of cells, the real difference between them lies in their parts and functions. Let’s take a detailed look at the parts of a cell in Spanish.
Plasma Membrane – Membrana plasmática
La membrana plasmática defines the border of a cell. It separates the inside and outside and is made of proteins and fats. It regulates the entrance of substances and exit of waste from the cell. It’s found in both animal and plant cells.
Cytoplasm – Citoplasma
El citoplasma is a gelatinous substance that fills the inside of a cell. It’s made of salts, proteins, and other substances. The cytoplasm keeps all the parts of a cell in place, specifically the different organelos (organelles). It’s found in both animal and plant cells.
Cellular Wall – Pared Celular
Vegetable cells are surrounded by a sturdy and firm pared celular outside the cellular membrane. It provides support to the cell and shapes it. Animal cells do not have this part of a cell.
Chloroplasts – Cloroplastos
Vegetable cells also have organelos (organelles) called cloroplastos. These are the parts of the cell in Spanish where photosynthesis takes place, meaning they are exclusive to plant cells.
Mitochondria – Mitocondrias
La mitocondria is an organelle that produces energy for the cell to function. It’s in charge of the breathing process for cells. Mitochondria are in both vegetable and animal cells.
Centrioles – Centriolos
Los centriolos are tubular organelles exclusive to animal cells. They are essential to a cell’s reproductive process.
Lysosomes – Lisosomas
Los lisosomas contain digestive enzymes. These organelles intervene by destroying viruses and bacteria. They are exclusive to animal cells.
Celular Nucleus – Núcleo Celular
El núcleo celular is an organelle and part of a cell you’ll find in both animal and vegetable cells. It contains large amounts of genetic material, specifically the DNA of the organism made by the cells.
It plays a key role in reproduction, as it contains all the information of a cell’s offspring.
Vacuole – Vacuola
La vacuola is an organelle that stores water and digests nutrients. It’s a large part of a cell found in both animal and vegetable cells.
Golgi Apparatus – Aparato de Golgi
El aparato de Golgi is an organelle found in both animal and plant cells. It’s in charge of creating proteins.
Ribosomes – Ribosomas
Los ribosomas support the creation of protein from substances obtained outside of the cell. They’re in both vegetable and animal cells.
Nucleolus – Nucléolo
El nucleolo is an organelle within the cellular nucleus that produces ribosomes.
Flagellum – Flagelo
El flagelo is a part of a cell that resembles a tail. It allows cells to move in their environment and exists in all types of cells.
Endoplasmic Reticulum – Retículo endoplasmático
El reticulo endoplasmático is a network of membranes that facilitates the movement of proteins. It contains ribosomes and may be liso (smooth) or rugoso (wrinkled).
Discover Animal Parts and Anatomy in Spanish.
Labeled Parts of a Cell in Spanish
Use these labeled diagrams for your students to visualize the parts of a cell in Spanish.
Using visual aids is essential for delivering this lesson with clarity. These illustrations are useful for your students to complete the worksheets and activities pack below.
Parts of a Cell in Spanish Activities and Worksheets
Word Search
Sopa de letras (word search) is an excellent activity for practicing spelling and Spanish vocabulary. It enhances concentration and requires your students’ full attention.
This template includes a word search for your students to locate 10 vocabulary words from the lesson.
Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz
Test your students’ understanding of this lesson with a 10-question quiz for them to answer as a fill-in-the-blank activity. Quizzes challenge kids and require them to use memory, logic, and Spanish writing.
Word Scramble
Word scramble is a wonderful activity for students to practice Spanish spelling and writing. This worksheet contains 12 parts of a cell in Spanish for your students to unscramble.
Classify the Parts of a Cell in Spanish
This easy-to-follow worksheet comes with a word box for students to classify the parts of a cell in Spanish into animal and vegetable cells.
Food Cells
This is a wonderful experiment that encourages your students’ creativity and culinary skills. The goal is for students to create either a vegetable or animal cell using food. Use gelatin, pudding, candy worms, gummies, chocolates, and other toppings.
The goal is for kids to visualize the parts of a cell and recreate it in a unique and fun way.
Get inspired by 20 Fun Spanish Crafts to Do With Your Learner.
Parts of a Cell Spanish Videos
YouTube features many videos about the parts of the cell. Videos are ideal for visual learners, and they support Spanish listening and pronunciation.
Here is a selection of videos to use in the lesson:
- La Célula: Definición, estructura, funciones y partes – The Cell: Definition, Structure, Functions and Parts
- La celula y sus partes – The Cell and its Parts
- La célula para niños: Tipos, estructura, funciones y partes – The Cell for Kids: Types, Structure, Functions, and Parts
Enrich Your Child’s Spanish Skills
Talking about the parts of a cell in Spanish is one of many science topics to teach children Spanish! Our team at Homeschool Spanish Academy is ready to equip you with engaging lesson plans and resources to enhance your Spanish classroom.
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