Cell Analogy Project
In class, we have talked a little bit about the organelles in a cell, but we haven’t gone
into a lot of detail. Over the next two classes, your task is to research the task of each cell
organelle, and then to think of an appropriate analogy.
A cell analogy is comparing the cell and its organelles to something of your choice. The
example which was played in class is comparing a cell to a Wal-Mart – you cannot use this
example for your project!
This project has 2 components:
1. Create an analogy chart.
• The analogy should be consistently applied. This means whatever you are comparing
your cell to should be the theme for the organelles. For example, you could compare a
cell to a restaurant or a kingdom or a factory or an ant colony. But only choose one! You
cannot have a mixed analogy. Be creative!
•
Clearly state whether you are presenting a plant cell, or an animal cell. There are some
organelles in plants which are not found in animals, and organelles in animals which are
not in plants! You must describe all of the organelles for your type of cell.
•
The chart should state the analogy part, the function, and the cell part for each of the
organelles.
•
Once you have created the analogy, type or neatly write up a chart showing the
comparisons. An example of a chart is below.
Name(s)
Eli Sellahs and Jake Rivers
Cell Type (plant or animal?)
Plant
Analogy
Wal-Mart
Organelle
Function in the cell
Analogy and reason
Cell
It controls which substances The cell membrane is like the doors,
Membrane
enter and leave the cell,
because they control people entering
and protects the cell
and leaving, and they protect the inside
from the wind.
Nucleus
2. Develop a presentation of some form to illustrate your analogy.
•
It can be in a form of your choice: a poster, a video, a Powerpoint or Prezi presentation,
or another format if it has been approved by your teacher.
•
You must clearly state each comparison, and the reason you are making this
comparison. For example:
The cell membrane is like the doors at the Wal-Mart, because the cell
membrane controls which substances enter and leave the cell. People
enter and leave Wal-Mart through the doors.
Due Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Due to Murphy's Law (and in order to avert technical difficulties, computer glitches, time warps,
black holes, gremlins, natural and unnatural disasters) please do not wait until the last minute
to complete or print your project.
Submit your project by physically bringing it to class, or by emailing the file or link to your
teacher at kgillard@wolfcreek.ab.ca
Cell Organelles
All cells
 Cell Membrane
 Cytoplasm
 Cytoskeleton
(microtubules and
microfilaments)
 Golgi Apparatus
 Lysosomes
 Mitochondria
 Nucleus
 Ribosomes
 Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum
 Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum
 Vacuoles and vesicles
Only in some cells
 Cell Wall
 Chloroplast
 Centrioles
 Cilia/flagella
Example of a chart (For the presentation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMbPZuI_CrU )
Cell Poster: Due Tuesday, December 20, 2011
See examples and resources at www.gillardsci10.wikispaces.com/biology
CATEGORY
Poster/
Presentation
3
2
Poster reflects an exceptional degree of
creativity and all graphics are related to
the topic and make it easier to
understand. Labels included.
Poster reflects some
creativity and most
graphics are related to
the topic and make it
easier to understand.
Labels included.
Analogy
Chosen analogy (cell is like a school,
etc.) makes sense and lends itself easily
to comparison to a cell.
Organelles
included
ALL (100%) of the correct organelles
(depending on plant or animal cell) from
the checklist are included.
Definition
Sheet
Definition sheet is organized & clearly
explains the analogies of each cell part
and function (i.e. “The nucleus is
analogous to the principal of a school,
because it controls everything that takes
place in a cell, and a principal is in
control of making sure that the school
functions correctly.”).
Chosen analogies to ALL organelles
make sense and correlate accurately to
function.
Chosen analogy make
sense but comparison
to a cell is a stretch at
times.
MOST (1 or 2 are
missing or incorrect) of
the correct organelles
(depending on plant or
animal cell) from the
checklist are included.
Definition sheet is
included but not clearly
organized to explain the
analogies of each cell
part and function
Accuracy
Chosen analogies to
MOST (1 or 2 are
unclear or incorrect)
organelles make sense
and correlate accurately
to function.
1
Poster reflects little
creativity and some
graphics are related to the
topic but do not make it
easier to understand.
Labels not included or are
incomplete.
Chosen analogy does not
make sense.
SOME (3 or more are
missing or incorrect) of
the correct organelles
(depending on plant or
animal cell) from the
checklist are included.
Definition sheet is not
included or incorrect.
Chosen analogies to SOME
(3 or more) organelles
make sense and correlate
accurately to function.
Scoring:
CATEGORY
Self assessment: Peer assessment Teacher assessment
Poster/Presentation
Analogy
Organelles included
Definition Sheet
Accuracy
Total
/15
/15
/15
Modified from Mrs. Sheila Vernot’s “Cell Analogy Project” accessed 14 Dec 2011
https://sites.google.com/a/staff.wauseon.k12.oh.us/mrs-vernot/life-science-links/cell-analogyproject, Rubric from
http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/tmccabe/documents/Cell%20Analogy%20Poster%20Rubric.pdf