Name:
Period:
Date:
Oreo Cell Student Worksheet
Everyone will work in groups of 4
Materials Needed:
Oreo Cookies (1 per person)
2 Tablespoons assorted color rod-shaped candy sprinkles
Toothpicks (2 per person)
Paper towels (1 per person)
Pre-Lab Questions
Eventually all cells in your body need to duplicate, so you can grow or heal wounds. Cells divide themselves through
mitosis. Mitosis is a process where a cell makes a duplicate of itself and all of its parts. In other words, one parent cell
creates two identical daughter cells, and in that way, we end up with more cells than we started with. Mitosis happens
through various stages that begin when DNA duplicates itself and ends when the two new cells split apart from each
other.
1. Why do cells need to duplicate?
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2. What is mitosis?
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3. What are the stages of mitosis and what are the stages of the cell cycle?
Directions:
1) Using your notes, find an image of the cell cycle that includes: interphase, mitosis (prophase, metaphase,
anaphase and telophase) and cytokinesis.
2) Fill out the table below for interphase and cytokinesis.
3) You will create a model for each stage of the MITOSIS ONLY, listed above. Each group member will create
one stage. IF YOU FINISH EARLY, YOU CAN USE AN EXTRA OREO TO CREATE CYTOKINESIS.
4) Carefully remove the top cookie from all six cookies by twisting the top cookie in a circular motion while
holding the bottom cookie with your other hand. The bottom cookie with the cream filling attached will be used
for your models (Note: You may eat the top cookie or lay it aside.).
5) The cream filling represents the cytoplasm of the cell. You must create the structures inside the cell that play
a role in the cell cycle using candy sprinkles. You must create the structures inside the cell that play a role in
mitosis by using one color of candy sprinkles to represent the chromosome pairs and other colors of sprinkles
to represent the spindle fibers, centrioles, nuclear membrane, etc. The toothpicks may be used to remove or
divide the cytoplasm or to move around the sprinkles.
6) Once you have modeled each stage, fill out the table and summarize the key events. Ask your teacher to
review your models and summary.
7) Once your teacher confirms that your models and summary are accurate, you and your group may
consume what remains of your Oreo cookie models.
8) Clean-up: Discard all materials from your lab once your teacher approves of your models and summary.
Wipe off all surfaces to remove crumbs.
Name:
Stage
Interphase
Period:
Drawing
Date:
Summary of important events
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Cytokinesis
Analysis
1. During which phase of mitosis do the sister chromatids split apart and move toward the poles of the cell?
2. During which phase of mitosis does the nuclear membrane reappear?
3. What was difficult about making the model?
4. Which part of mitosis is most confusing? Most simple?
5. Complete the Exit Ticket.
Name:
Period:
Date: