PreAP Biology Cell Analogy
Mini-Project
1.Each student must construct one cell project. It can be either a plant or animal
cell.
2.Each cell organelle must be represented by different items but may be made of
the same material (construction paper or clay for example).
3.Your project must be three-dimensional. No Posters!
4.The project must be 1’x1’x1’ OR SMALLER!!
5. The cell project must be an analogy (it should not look like a cell diagram) and
have a central theme. * Each organelle must depict the major function of that
cell part. * For example, the central vacuole could look like a water tower since
its major function is storage of water (you may not use this example).
6.All parts should be shown in their proper relationship to one another as they are in
the real cell. For example: The cell wall should be the outermost in a plant cell
and the cell membrane should be the outermost in an animal cell.
7.You must make your model. No boxed kits (such as a car model or Lego’s) or toys
(such as a doll house) may be used. No credit will be given such models!!!
8.Put the number from the organelle list below on each representative item.
9.Models will not be returned to the student.
10.Each cell must have the following organelles:
Plant Cell
Animal Cell
1. Nucleus
1. Nucleus
2. Chromatin
2. Chromatin
3. Nucleolus
3. Nucleolus
4. Cytoplasm
4. Cytoplasm
5. Ribosomes
5. Ribosomes
6. Rough ER
6. Rough ER
7. Smooth ER
7. Smooth ER
8. Vacuole
8. Vacuole
9. Mitochondria
9. Mitochondria
10. Golgi Apparatus
10. Golgi Apparatus
11. Peroxisome
11. Peroxisome
12. Cell Membrane
12. Cell Membrane
13. Cell Wall
13. Lysosome
14. Cholorplast
14. Centrioles
11.Written Material:
a.You need a typed handout explaining the analogies. Each analogy should
state: 1) the organelle, 2) the item representing the organelle, 3) the
function of the organelle, and 4) the function of the item and how its
function relates to the organelle’s function. Example: Just as the central
vacuole in a plant cell is responsible for the storage of water, the water
tower in my analogy is responsible for storage of water in my town.
b.The analogies on your handout should be numbered and follow the same
order as the list of organelles above.
NO electronic or computer equipment may be used as your theme!!!!! Projects and
project parts will NOT be returned!!!!
Name: _________________________
Cell Analogy Grading Rubric
Organelles
Present (2 pts)
Analogy explanation –
related to function (4
pts)
1. Nucleus
2. Chromatin
3. Nucleolus
4. Cytoplasm
5. Ribosomes
6. Rough ER
7. Smooth ER
8. Vacuole
9. Mitochondria
10. Golgi Apparatus
11. Peroxisome
12. Cell Membrane
Plant
13. Cell Wall
14. Chloroplast
Animal
13. Lysosome
14. Centriole
Total points from chart = 84
Neatness and/or Effort = 16
Total project worth 100 points
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