Cell City Project
Introduction
What comes to mind when you think of going to a pizza parlor? Can you smell the aroma of
cheese, pepperoni, onions, or picture the employees making pizzas? Can you hear music
playing in the background as well as sounds from people laughing and talking? People
come in and go out, taking boxes of pizzas-to-go. What a flurry of activity!
Cells, the basic units of life, can be compared to a pizza parlor, a factory, and even an entire
city. These cells are busy building and breaking down macromolecules. They are at work
releasing energy from foods, and then using that energy to make needed cell parts.
Together, your cells function to make your body operate like a well-run business, factory or
city.
The Process
1. Before you can construct a cell city, you must research each cell organelle to determine
its function and how it works with other cell parts to function correctly. Complete the “Cell
Structure & Function Worksheet.”
2. Determine what you will compare your cell organelles to. )Suggestions include a city, a
school, even a football team. If you can explain how each organelle compares to each
structure/person then I will accept any analogy.) Complete the “Cell Analogy Worksheet.”
3. Create your book. Draw/color/create a picture of the organelle and a picture of the
analogy. Below the pictures explain in a 2-3 sentences what the function of the organelle is,
what your analogy is, and how the analogy fits the function. Label the page with a creative
title, such as “Vacuole Lake.” Complete enough pages for each of the organelles in the list
above along with a cover page of your city.
Example Layout of Each Book Page:
Creative Title
Picture of Analogy
Picture of
Organelle
Explanation of what
the function of the
organelle is, what your analogy
is, and how the analogy fits the
function
Cell City Project
The Cell City Project Rubric
The assignment with ALL pieces (both worksheets and book) is due on ___________________.
*Include all worksheets and this packet to your final project* THIS IS A MAJOR GRADE!!!
Here are the points for the assignment. 71 points total, fill in Yes/No column before submitting
this paper with your work.
Criteria
Includes analogy of cell
membrane (and cell wall if plant).
Includes analogy of cytoplasm
Includes analogy of nucleus
Includes analogy of nuclear membrane
Includes analogy of golgi apparatus
Includes analogy of nucleolus
Includes analogy of endoplasmic
reticulum
Includes analogy of ribosomes
Includes analogy of mitochondria
Includes analogy of vacuole
Includes analogy of lysosomes
animal cell) or chloroplasts (if
plant cell)
Includes analogy of cytoplasm
Analogy is creative
Analogy is a visual tool to understand the
parts of the cell.
Analogy is artistic
Answers to both Cell Structure &
Function Worksheet AND Cell Analogy
Worksheets are turned in on separate
paper with all analogies written out.
Total Score (possible 71 points)
Comments:
Yes
No
Poor
Average
Excellent
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
1
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3
1
1
1
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2
2
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3
1
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3
1
1
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2
3
3
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6
2
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6
5
15
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