Cell Model Project
Due Date Dec. 14, 2018
Ms. Gouker
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to make a 3D model of a cell in order to better
understand the parts and functions of a cell.
Directions:
Using household items make a three-dimensional model of a plant or animal cell. Your
cell model should be made of things you can find around your house. The cell should
be no smaller than 8 x 8 and no larger than 10x 14.
Materials:
Some sample items you can use are cereal, candy, matches, rope, seeds, Styrofoam,
toothpicks, dried fruit, pasta, playdo, spaghetti, Alka-Seltzer, beans etc. or make a
cake or a brownie and decorate it with candies or icing to look like a cell. Round
cake for an animal cell or a 9 x 13 for a plant cell. Craft packages can also be very
useful; (clay, beads, glitter, pipe cleaners). Anything goes; the main rule is to be
creative!! All cells become property of Ms. Gouker.
o Animal cells must include:
 Nucleus
 Nucleolus
 Nuclear envelope
 Plasma/cell membrane
 Cytoplasm
 Mitochondrion
 Lysosome
o Plant cells must include:
 Nucleus
 Nucleolus
 Nuclear envelope
 Cell wall
 Plasma/cell membrane
 Cytoplasm
 Mitochondrion
 Chloroplast








Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Ribosomes
Vacuoles
Vesicles
Golgi apparatus
Centriole







Plastids
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Ribosomes
Vacuole
Vesicles
Golgi apparatus
Create a Key or legend to label each part of your model and write a brief description
of its function. The key should be color coded.
Cell Model Rubric
Exceeds
Standards
(4)
CATEGORY
Quality of
Model
Appearance
Creativity
Organelles
(on Project)
Organelles
(Key/Legend)
Printed Rubric
Meets
Standards
(3)
Approachin
g Standards
(2)
Below
Standards (1)
No Credit
(0)
Model is
extremely
well-build.
Parts are
securely
attached to
the model.
Somewhat
well-build.
Some parts
are slightly
loose when
the model is
slightly
shaken.
Structure is
well-built, but
some parts
have
degraded
(ex: cracked
clay, faded
paint).
Bad
construction.
Extra care must
be taken when
moving/
handling the
model.
Extremely
low quality.
Many parts
are loose,
damaged,
falling off,
and/or
missing.
Model is the
appropriate
size. Key is
typed/neatly
written. It
shows
evidence of
considerable
effort.
Appearance
is neat, labels
are t
typed/neatly
written.
Project is
organized
and shows
evidence of
good effort.
Good,
creative use
of materials.
Some parts
do not
resemble the
actual
organelle.
Labels are
hard to read.
Project is
somewhat
organized.
Shows some
effort was
used.
Labels are
handwritten,
illegibly done,
and minimal
effort was
used. Project is
too big or too
small.
Size is too big
or too small.
Appears
hastily built
and lack of
effort is
evident.
Project shows
some
creativity.
Most parts do
not resemble
actual
organelles.
Minimal
creativity is
used. Project is
incomplete.
Lacks
creativity.
Missing
organelles.
11-12
organelles are
correctly
located and
placed on the
project. All
parts are
labeled.
Key is neat,
but not color
coded, or
typed/neatly
written.
Missing
descriptions of
2-3 organelles.
1-2 spelling
errors.
10 organelles
are correctly
located and
placed on the
project. Some
parts are
labeled.
8-9 organelles
are correctly
located and
placed on the
project. Missing
most labels.
7 or less
organelles
are correctly
located and
placed on
the project.
No labels.
Key is present,
handwritten
and messy; or
too small.
Descriptions
of 4-5
organelles are
missing. 3-4
spelling or
grammar
errors.
Key is difficult
to understand.
Descriptions of
more than 5
organelles are
missing. More
than 5 spelling
or grammar
errors.
Key is not
present.
Cell model
uses materials
not often
seen in most
projects.
Students used
items that
closely
resemble the
organelles.
13+ organelles
are correctly
located and
placed on the
project. All
parts are
labeled.
Key is color
coded
typed/neatly
written. Easy
to follow.
Each
organelle has
a description
of its job. No
spelling errors
are present.
Rubric was
printed and
brought in 
Grading Scale:
22-24 pts= A
Total
No Rubric
20-21pts= B
17-19 pts=C
15-16 pts=D
14-0=F