Cell Analogies Collage
It takes 100,000 cells to cover one square centimeter of skin, but only one cell collage to cover a large
part of your life science grade!
Introduction: You are about to begin a cell analogies collage. The purpose of this assignment is for
you to better understand the parts of a cell by relating them to “real-life” items or things you know. We
are observing the cell as a system, which has smaller parts with important functions (jobs), just like
many other things we encounter in our everyday life. An analogy is a comparison between two things
which are similar in some respects, but otherwise different. It is an explanation of something by
comparing it point by point with something else.
Procedure:
1. Pick something from the list below with which you would like to compare the cell.
Circle your choice.
a) a house
e) a country
b) a mall
f) a castle
c) a school (our school)
g) the human body
d) a sports team
h) other ___________________________________
(must be approved by the teacher)

Begin by filling out this statement: A cell is like ______________________________________
because it is made out of smaller parts that help it function. This will be your title!
2. You may choose a plant cell or an animal cell. Plant cells will contain two extra parts, chloroplasts
and cell walls, so will receive two points of extra credit.
3. Create analogies to compare the cell to your choice above for the following organelles.
a) cell membrane
b) nucleus
c) mitochondria
d) Golgi bodies
e) ribosome
f) vacuole
g) endoplasmic reticulum
h) lysosome
Plant cell only
i) cell wall
j) chloroplast
4. Draw a color diagram of your plant or animal cell. Use your textbook p. 90 & 91 for assistance.
5. Paste your cell diagram to the center of a piece of construction paper. On top, write your title.
6. Plan ahead and map out where your analogies will be placed. Make a point to each of your cell
structures in your cell diagram, then label neatly with your written analogies. Underline the cell
structure in your written analogy.
7. Find (newspapers, magazines, Internet) pictures or draw pictures to show your analogies. Paste
them next to your analogies.
8. You will be responsible for a brief oral presentation of your project to the class at the completion of
the project.
a)
cell
membrane
Cell Analogies Organizer
Job in the cell
Analogy
The cell membrane is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
b)
nucleus
The nucleus is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
c)
mitochondria
The mitochondria is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
d)
Golgi body
The Golgi body is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
e)
ribosome
The ribosome is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
f)
vacuole
The vacuole is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
g)
endoplasmic
reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
h)
lysosome
The lysosome is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
i)
cell wall
The cell wall is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.
j)
chloroplast
The chloroplast is like
________________________________________,
because
________________________________________.