# Cells and Systems Crossword

This puzzle reviews the vocabulary of Grade 8 Cells and Systems, where you investigate the role of cells as the basic unit of life and compare how plant and animal cells are built and function ([Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17320)). Every organism, whether single-celled or made of trillions of cells, relies on structures such as the nucleus, ribosome, chloroplast, and membrane to carry out the processes that keep it alive, and on movement mechanisms like diffusion and osmosis to exchange gases and liquids ([Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17320)). These ideas connect to the broader concept that living things function as systems built from cells, tissues, and organs working together ([Topic](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17317), [Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17319)).

## How to play

- Read each clue. Its number matches a numbered square in the grid.
- Write one capital letter in each square. There are 4 words across and 4 words down.
- Crossing words share a letter, so check it fits both. The answer key shows the finished grid.

## Puzzle grid
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | 1 | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | 2 | 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| 4 |   |   |   |   |   |   | ■ | 5 | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | 6 | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | 7 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | 8 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

## Clues
### Across

2. Tiny structure inside a cell that performs a specific job. (9)
4. Movement of water across a cell membrane due to concentration differences. (7)
7. Plant cell structure where photosynthesis captures energy from sunlight. (11)
8. Thin layer that surrounds a cell and controls what enters and exits. (8)

### Down

1. Cell part that contains genetic material and controls cell activities. (7)
3. Process in cells that releases energy from glucose. (11)
5. Movement of particles from an area of high concentration to low concentration. (9)
6. Cell structure where proteins are made. (8)

## Answer key
- **1 down**: NUCLEUS
- **2 across**: ORGANELLE
- **3 down**: RESPIRATION
- **4 across**: OSMOSIS
- **5 down**: DIFFUSION
- **6 down**: RIBOSOME
- **7 across**: CHLOROPLAST
- **8 across**: MEMBRANE

| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | N | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | U | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | C | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | L | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | O | R | G | A | N | E | L | L | E | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | E | ■ | ■ | ■ | U | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| O | S | M | O | S | I | S | ■ | D | ■ | S | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | P | ■ | I | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | I | ■ | F | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | R | ■ | F | ■ | ■ | ■ | R | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | A | ■ | U | ■ | ■ | ■ | I | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | T | ■ | S | ■ | ■ | ■ | B | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | I | ■ | I | ■ | ■ | ■ | O | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | C | H | L | O | R | O | P | L | A | S | T | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | N | ■ | N | ■ | ■ | ■ | O | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | M | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | M | E | M | B | R | A | N | E |

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*Note: 2 learning outcome blocks were left out to fit the 4000-token curriculum budget for this kind of material. Use "Split into parts" to generate one document per organizing idea.*

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*AILI game · language en · model claude-sonnet-5 · generated 2026-09-17 · id ffe9366e-1537-41cd-a18d-e2d0563693c0*

### Sources

- node:n1: Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and t (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/36522)
- node:n2: How are organisms supported by vital biological processes and systems? (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/36523)
- node:n3: Students investigate the internal systems of organisms and explain how they support vital biological processes. (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/36524)
- node:n4: Details (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/36526)
- node:n5: Unit C: Cycling of Matter in Living Systems (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/43875)
- node:n6: Outcomes for Science, Technology & Society (STS) & Knowledge (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/43876)
- node:n7: *Students will:* Explain the relationship between developments in imaging technology and the current understanding of th (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/43877)
- node:n8: *Students will:* Describe the function of cell organelles and structures in a cell, in terms of life processes, and use  (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/43878)
- node:n9: Unit C: Investigating Matter & Energy in Living Systems (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/31101)
- node:n10: Outcomes for Science, Technology & Society (STS) & Knowledge (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/31102)
- node:n11: *Students will:* Describe, in general terms, the structure and function of plant and animal cell parts; and trace the de (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/31105)
- node:n12: *Students will:* Identify and compare, in general terms, the life functions common to living systems, from cells to orga (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/31106)
- node:n13: Unit B: Cells and Systems (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17317)
- node:n14: Outcomes for Science, Technology and Society (STS) and Knowledge (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17318)
- node:n15: *Students will:* Investigate living things; and identify and apply scientific ideas used to interpret their general stru (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17319)
- node:n16: *Students will:* Investigate and describe the role of cells within living things - describe the role of cells as a basic (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/17320)