Cells and Atoms: Understanding the Basics

Common Misconceptions Worksheet
Common Misconception: Many students think that things are made EITHER of cells OR of atoms - that these are two completely different categories.

The Truth: Cells are MADE OF atoms! Everything is made of atoms. Living things organize atoms into molecules, and molecules into cells. Non-living things are made of atoms and molecules but NOT organized into cells.

Section A: Understanding the Hierarchy

1. Complete the following sentence: [1]

Atoms join together to form _______________, which can then be organized into _______________ in living organisms.

2. True or False: A cell is made of atoms. [1]
3. Sarah says: "My textbook is made of atoms, but my skin is made of cells. They're completely different things." [3]

Explain what is wrong with Sarah's statement.

Section B: Cells vs Atoms in Real Examples

4. Consider a slice of bread. The bread was made from wheat, which is a living plant. [4]

a) Is bread made of atoms? Explain your answer.

b) Does bread contain cells? Explain your answer.

c) Are the atoms and cells in bread the same thing, or are they different? Explain.

5. Complete the table below by putting a tick (✓) in the appropriate boxes. [6]
Example Made of atoms? Made of cells?
A rock
A human being
A water molecule (H₂O)
A bacterial cell
A wooden chair
A cotton T-shirt

Section C: Thinking Deeper

6. A student examines a leaf under a microscope and can see individual plant cells. [2]

If they could zoom in even further (beyond what a normal microscope can do), what would they see that makes up those cells?

7. Put the following in order from SMALLEST to LARGEST: [2]

Cell, Atom, Organ, Molecule, Organism

8. Explain why it is correct to say that a living organism is made of BOTH cells AND atoms. [3]

Section D: Application Questions

9. Two students are discussing a piece of cheese. [4]

Student A: "Cheese is made from milk, which comes from cows. Cows are alive, so cheese must be made of cells."

Student B: "But cheese isn't alive anymore, so it's just made of atoms and molecules now, not cells."

a) Which student is more correct? Explain your reasoning.

b) What would both students need to understand about the relationship between cells and atoms?

10. Draw a simple diagram showing how atoms, molecules, and cells are related in a living organism. Label your diagram clearly. [4]
Draw your diagram here
11. A scientist discovers a new object on another planet. They need to determine if it is living or non-living. [5]

a) Will the object definitely be made of atoms, whether it's living or non-living?

b) If the object is made of cells, what can the scientist conclude?

c) If the object is NOT made of cells, does that mean it's not made of atoms? Explain.

Section E: Challenge Questions

12. Consider a DNA molecule inside a human cell. [3]

Explain the relationship between the atoms, the DNA molecule, and the cell. Which contains which?

13. A piece of fruit starts to decay and break down. [4]

a) Are the plant cells in the fruit still made of atoms during the decay process?

b) As the cells break down, what happens to the atoms that made them up?

c) Why is this evidence that atoms and cells are not mutually exclusive categories?

Total: 42 marks