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Pack 2 · The Cells Inside You

Cell Types

Eight cell types from the human body. Each one a different shape, a different job, and a different reason to look closer.

Free
Start here
Parent's cheat sheet

A 1-page guide to the eight cell types in this pack, so you have a word for each one.

For the curious
What your cells gave up.

What's inside

0–6 months
High-contrast cards

8 black-and-white cards for the earliest months.

18 months+
Matching game

8 pairs of color cards.

Ages 1+
Coloring sheets

8 full-page illustrations to color in.

Ages 2+
Sort by size

8 cell-shaped cutouts and numbered tiles. Arrange the cells from smallest to largest.

Print specs
  • Prints from any home printer at A4 portrait, 100% scale
  • Card stock or lamination makes them last
License

Free for personal, classroom, and childcare use. Please don't resell, redistribute, or re-host these files, and please keep the Lupe credit on them. To share, link people to lupe.science rather than uploading the PDF elsewhere. Full terms & licensing.

The cell types

Eight cells, eight shapes, one body.

Your body is made of trillions of cells, but they're not all the same. Here are eight of the most distinctive.

Neuron

Neurons carry electrical signals between your brain and your body. They have long branches that reach out and connect to other neurons.

Red blood cell

Red blood cells pick up oxygen in your lungs and deliver it to every part of your body. They are shaped like tiny discs with a dip in the middle.

Lung cell

Deep inside your lungs are tiny air sacs called alveoli, shaped like balloons. Lung cells line these sacs, where the oxygen you breathe in passes into your blood.

Muscle cell

Muscle cells are long fibres that can expand and contract. They are what make us strong. They let us walk, jump, and lift heavy things.

White blood cell

White blood cells protect your body. They travel through your blood looking for bacteria and other things that don't belong, and fight them.

Skin cell

Skin cells are flat and tightly packed in layers. New ones form at the bottom and move up to the surface, replacing old ones that fall away.

Bone cell

Some bone cells build new bone, others break old bone down. Together they keep your bones strong and growing.

Intestinal cell

Intestinal cells line your intestine. They are covered in tiny hair-like projections called microvilli that absorb nutrients from the food you eat.

How to use

A few ideas to get started.

High-contrast cards

Prop a card up during tummy time, about 20–30 cm from your baby's face. Hold the card steady and let your baby focus on the bold shapes. Try placing one at eye level wherever your baby spends time, and rotate cards every few days to keep things fresh.

Matching game

Start with just 3 or 4 pairs, face up. Ask your child to find the two that look the same. As they get the hang of it, add more pairs. Older toddlers can try turning them face down for a memory game.