Make your own Cell Model

Summative Project

Objective:

In order to really understand the complex nature of a cell and to understand the nature and quantity of cell organelles, you are going to make a 3D model of a cell and the organelles within the cell. This model will be made out of material you find at home, and/or material that is provided to you in the classroom. The organelles you create should combine real features of the cell and organelles along with creativity to best represent the organelles within the cell. Some examples of materials you might find around the house are: egg cartons, milk cartons, styrofoam, cardboard box, batteries, pipe cleaners, and nonperishable food items like rice, etc. You will not be given extra points for purchasing materials to make your project, so be creative with ordinary materials.

Directions:

You may chose to make either a typical animal or plant cell.
You will include the correct organelles for the cell you have chosen. Remember that animal and plant cells are different from one another.
You will first need to create a colored diagram of your cell model with labeled organelles.
Show your plans of your cell model to your teacher for prior approval before you begin to build.
Build your cell model.
You must label the organelles on your cell model. Toothpicks with a label generally work well for this, you may also create your own labeling system out of other materials.

Example:

^[1]

Grading Rubric:

	Exceeds Expectations	Meets Expectations	Partially Meets Expectations	Does Not Meet Expectations
Organelles	10 or more organelles of the cell were included in the cell model	8-9 organelles of the cell were included in the cell model	6-7 organelles of the cell were included in the cell model	5 or less organelles were included in the cell model
Construction	The cell model was well built, neat, attractive, and follows plans accurately.	Construction of the cell model was neat, attractive, and accurate for the most part. 1-2 details of model could have been refined.	Construction of the cell model accurately followed the plans, but 3-4 details of the model could have been refined for a more attractive product.	Construction appears careless or haphazard. Many details need to be refined for a strong or attractive product.
Materials	Appropriate materials were selected for the model and modified in creative ways to best represent the organelles within the cell.	Appropriate materials were selected for the cell model and there was an attempt to modify the materials to represent the organelles within the cell.	Appropriate materials were selected for the cell model.	Poor materials were selected for the organelles, and contributed to a poor final product.
Use of Class Time	Student was always prepared, on task, and helpful to others during class time.	Student was mostly prepared and on task while in class working on the project.	Student was always prepared, but had trouble focusing on the project during class time.	Student was not prepared or on task while class time was given to work on the project.
Colored Diagram	A complete, colored, and labeled rough draft sketch of the model was shown to the teacher before construction, and turned in at the end with final product.	A mostly complete rough draft sketch of the model was shown to the teacher before construction, and turned in at the end with the final product.	A rough draft sketch of the model was created before the model was made, and turned in with the final product.	Teacher was shown no evidence of a rough draft sketch before the model was made. A rough sketch may or may not have been included with the final product.

Creative Commons License Unit 3 Cells, Cell Model Project by MN Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] “Cell Model”, Picture taken by Anna Dougherty