This worksheet describes the structures of the unicellular protist known as the ameba.  Though NGSS standards do not require units on protozoans, this can still be a useful exercise for examining how structure relates to function and how single-celled organisms move, consume food, and reproduce.

What is the amoeba?

An amoeba is a type of cell or unicellular organism that can alter its shape by extending and retracting pseudopods. Amoebas are eukaryotes, which means their DNA is packaged into a central cellular compartment called the nucleus.

They also contain specialized structures called organelles, which perform a range of cellular functions including energy production and protein transport

Students read a passage that describes cell parts such as the nucleus, contractile vacuole, endoplasm, and pseudopodia and then color these structures on a drawing of the ameba.  Worksheet questions can be answered by reading the passage carefully.