It can be hard for students to visualize the structure of a cell, but this activity will make it easier for those who are kinetic learners to grasp. Visual learners will also be pulled in, since the pieces they choose to represent each organelle will remind them of the cell part.
Lesson objective:
Students will find out the parts of a cell, and will learn what their function is. They will also have fun and use their creative abilities. Your junk drawer will also be cleaner.
Grade levels targeted:
Ages 9 to 16
Materials:
A one quart zippered plastic bag, one cup of water, corn syrup or clear hand dishwashing liquid, a pile of small, miscellaneous junk such as marbles, very small hardware, and other objects
Lesson steps:
1. Spend some time learning about cells. Sources could include books, textbooks, or the Biology for Kids website. Trace, color, and label cell structure drawings if you like.
2. Make a list of the parts of a cell. This could include the Cell Membrane, Cell Wall, Chloroplast, Cytoplasm, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Golgi Body, Lysosome, Mitochondria, Nucleus, Vacuole and other parts listed in your chosen resources. Use a word processing program like Open Office or Google Documents (or just pencil and paper) to make a chart with rows headed:
- Cell Part
- Cell Part Function
- Piece used
- Reason
Be sure to have as many columns in the chart as you have cell structure parts on your list. Label each column with the name a cell structure.
3. Look through your junk drawer or pile. Find a piece to represent each of the parts of a cell. Think of a reason why it makes you think of that part. For instance, chloroplasts could be represented by a green marble, because chloroplasts give plant cells their green color. Ribosomes might be shown as screws, because they build proteins. Add the name of the part and the reason why it is like the organelle to your chart. Be sure to include what the cell part's function is.
4. Put the chosen parts into the plastic bag. When you have an object to represent all of the cell parts that you've chosen to study, dump in water, corn syrup or clear dishwashing liquid to represent the cytoplasm. This is your cell. Compare your cell part choices with those of others. As an alternative, have kids guess what the pieces in someone else's bag represent.
Evaluation method:
A few days later, see if students can remember what each part stands for.
Conclusion/lesson wrap-up:
Take pictures of your projects and keep them for your portfolio. Be sure to post them online if you have a blog. Link back to this page if you would like to explain the project.
When you are finished, be sure to empty and clean the bags. Leaking corn syrup is not much fun.
Some children may want to repeat this activity, since it can be so much out-of -the -ordinary fun. It is one of those activities that your children may remember and use on the SATs, or be able to recall when they have kids of their own.
