CELL ANALOGY PROJECT
Purpose: to compare the structure and function of cells with a familiar system.
Directions: You and a partner will create and illustrate an analogy (comparison) for a plant or animal cell. Your analogy
will include a:
1. Drawing where you label each part of the city/house/body/station/etc. AND its corresponding cell part
(organelle), and a
2. Written description of each organelle/ part and how it is similar to its corresponding organelle.
Pre-Writing: Students will make a thinking map such as a bridge map for each of the organelles in the cell.
EX:
Cell membrane
AS
Fence
___________________
_____________________
Protect and regulates
Surrounds and protects a yard
Writing: Student will write a paragraph for each organelle with a minimum of four sentences. The simile will be in the
first sentence (Ex: A lysosome is like a garbage disposal). The second sentence will have a description of the object with
its structure and function. The third sentence will have a description of the organelle with its structure and function. The
fourth sentence will describe how the two are similar.
Required structures:

Cell

Vacuole

Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Nucleus

Golgi Apparatus

Cell Membrane

Lysosomes

Cell Wall (if
making a plant
cell) Centriole (if
making an animal
cell)

Chloroplast (plant
cells) or
Cytoskeleton
(animal cells)

Endoplasmic
Reticulum (smooth
and Rough)

Ideas for analogous structures: Please feel free to create your own!

Farm

Forest

School

Restaurant

Zoo

Hospital

Ocean

Library

Car/Truck

Kitchen

Computer

Sport

Mall

Airport

Play

Human Body

Fire Dept.

Cruise ship

Grocer y Store

Amusement
Park