Welcome to a World of...

Cells

Written by: Ms. Stewart

Illustrations by: Ms. Stewart & StoryJumper

Hi! I am a cell. I am the smallest unit of life! That means, anything that is alive is made of cells JUST like me!

Cells are very, very small. In fact, we are microscopic! Usually, you can only see us with a microscope.

But when trillions of cells come together, we can make things that are very big - like you, or a tree, or even an ELEPHANT!

Your body, has many different kinds of cells. They all work together and do different jobs to keep you alive.

Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body.

Skin cells protect you from invaders!

Neurons help send messages all over your body, to and from your brain.

Muscle cells can help your body move and make your heart work!

Ahhhh! In coming ATTACK!! I forgot to mention something! Since you are made of many cells, you are what we microscopic beings call multicellular.

Multicellular organisms have cells that are more complex, with many small parts inside. Complex cells are called eukaryotic cells (you-care-ee-ot-ic).

The small parts inside of a eukaryotic cell are called organelles. They all work together and do different jobs for the cell, the same way all of your cells do different jobs for your body!

The mitochondria help produce energy for the cell.

The endoplasmic reticulum and the ribosomes help make and modify proteins.

The nucleus provides everything with instructions.

The golgi body helps package proteins for delivery.