Cell Song, Rap, Poem, or Video
Complete a song, rap or poem that explains the different parts of the plant and animal cell. Include the vocabulary
given. Be sure to include the similarities and differences between the cells by explaining eukaryotic cells, organelles
found in each, and the function of plant cells verses animal cells. You can look on YouTube to help give you some idea of
how to complete the video. You may use props, posters, or models to help you.
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The song or rap, if not videotaped, must be presented to the class or to me privately. You must also turn in a
copy of the song lyrics when you present your project.
The poem must be typed or neatly hand written.
The video must be uploaded to YouTube or brought in on flash drive. You can use a phone video recorder if you
like.
Vocabulary to include:
Prokaryote, eukaryote, organelle, mitochondrion, nucleus, cell (plasma) membrane, cell wall, chloroplast,
Golgi body or apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome, centriole, vacuole, ribosome, chromosomes,
nucleolus, nuclear membrane (envelope),cytoplasm
Cell Model
An animal cell can contain up to 14 different structures called organelles. These structures are the
mitochondria, microfilaments, lysosomes, peroxisome, centrioles, nucleolus, Golgi apparatus, cilia, smooth ER,
rough ER, ribosomes, chromatin, nucleus and the cell membrane.
Complete a 3-D model of the cell using different materials. The model cannot be made of edible material or material
that will mold or “go bad”.
Supplies
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Styrofoam balls are widely available at craft stores. One ball can be used for two students, as you will
each need only half a ball. Cut the Styrofoam ball in half to create a cross section of a cell.
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The organelles can be made out of clay, pipe cleaners, yarn straws buttons, mini pom poms (little fuzz
balls), or any other item you might find at the store or around your house. These can be attached by
toothpicks or glue to the cell.
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Label the parts of the cell. Cut paper into strips 2 inches long and half an inch wide. Clearly label each
piece of paper with the name of each of the cell parts and slide each one onto a toothpick. Push each
toothpick into the Styrofoam ball next to the correct parts.
*You may look online for directions on building a Styrofoam model of a cell to help you.
Travel Brochure for a Cell
ABSTRACT: Students produce a travel brochure to attract visitors to spend money to visit an animal or plant cell.
Students can think about their cell as a huge amusement park, or even better, a small roadside attraction. The brochure
must describe at least 10 "attractions" (organelles or cell processes) that will "delight and amaze" their potential
customers. Humor and creativity are encouraged. Brochures are evaluated by accuracy of organelle descriptions, design
and creativity.
PROCEDURE: Using small roadside attractions as an inspiration, students produce a travel brochure to entice
visitors to take the next exit and visit the "incredible!, amazing!, and unbelievable!" sights of an animal or plant
cell. For example, visitors might want to "visit the ribosomes, located just outside the nucleus, and watch as
proteins are synthesized RIGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES!". Students are allowed creative license in their
descriptions, such as "be sure to visit the Golgi center inside the gift shop, and have your purchases gift
wrapped for you before you leave."
EVALUATION:
Brochures are evaluated on accuracy in describing functions of organelles, design, and creativity. -
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CELL ANALOGIES COLLAGE
MATERIALS: 6" X 8" piece of drawing paper, poster board, text with illustration of cell structure to refer to, scissors,
paste, drawing pencils or pens, magazines and newspaper ad sections.
PROCEDURE: Define analogy: "A comparison between two things which are similar in some respects, but otherwise are
different. An explanation of something by comparing it point by point with something else." -- Webster's
Instructions for:
1. Draw a plant or animal cell in pencil on 6" X 8" white paper. Include the following structures:
BASIC TEN
EXTRA CREDIT
cell membrane
cytoplasm
cell wall
lysosome
rough E.R.
smooth E.R.
chloroplast
vacuole
chromatin
ribosomes
centriole
flagellum
nucleus
Golgi apparatus
cytoskeleton
nucleolus
mitochondria
cilia
2. Correctly identify your cell as a plant cell or an animal cell.
3. Find out the function (or main job) each structure has in the cell. (Read your book, check the glossary, color sheets,
and class notes.)
4. Find a magazine or newspaper picture of an everyday object which has a similar function (or use) as each cell
structure. Write an analogy to show the similarity between the cell part and the everyday object. Be sure to explain the
reasoning behind your analogies. ( The nucleus is like a brain because it controls and coordinates the activities of the
whole cell in the same way the brain controls and coordinates activities of the body.)
5. Paste your cell drawing in the middle of a poster-size piece of construction paper.
6. Paste the pictures of everyday objects at the edges of the construction paper. Label the pictures with your neatly
written analogies and make a pointer to the correct structure in your cell drawing.