Lesson 6: ex-CELL-ent work!

Now we’re are almost ready to check out some actual cells.  In the next lesson we’ll try making some wet mount slides of a few different kinds of real cells.  But first, put together this model of a typical cell – just to make sure you’ve really mastered the names of the organelles.  Reread the descriptions of each organelle to help you study.  This activity would be fun to do with a group of friends or in a co-op class.  Seminar students will do this activity in the seminar.

Here is a list of supplies you will need: 

One large plain sugar cookie

White frosting

One  oblong red Jujyfruit

One round orange Jujyfruit

Colored sprinkles

One sour gummy worm

One regular gummy worm

One Twizzler bite

One X-shaped cereal piece

Two candy fruit slices

One Hot Tamale

One round Peachie-O candy

One yellow Jujyfruit

Three green M&Ms

Model Cells

  1.  Remember, the PLASMA MEMBRANE (CELL MEMBRANE) is a membrane between the cell contents and the cell’s surroundings.  Your sugar cookie will represent the cell membrane.
  2. The CYTOPLASM is the jellylike fluid inside the cell in which all of the cell organelles are suspended.  Cover the top of your cookie cell with white icing to represent the cytoplasm.
  3. The MITOCHONDRIA are organelles in which nutrients are converted to energy.  Use the red Jujyfruit to represent a mitochondrion on your cookie cell.
  4. The LYSOSOME is responsible for breaking down large molecules in the cell. Lysosomes also break down old, worn-out organelles and other cellular trash. Use an orange Jujyfruit to represent a lysosome on your cookie cell.
  5. The RIBOSOMES are responsible for making proteins.  They are not membrane-bound, so they can be found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells  Ribosomes can be found suspended individually within the cytoplasm and also in clumps attached to endoplasmic reticulum.  Use colored sprinkles to represent free ribosomes on your cookie cell.
  6. The ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM is a network of folded membranes.  In animal cells, it helps maintain the cell’s shape.  Some ER, known as rough ER, has ribosomes attached.  This type of ER is involved in the synthesis of proteins.  ER with NO ribosomes attached (smooth ER) helps eliminate waste from cellular digestion and respiration.  Use a sour gummy worm to represent rough ER and a regular gummy worm to represent smooth ER.
  7. The chromoplasts contain pigments plants use in photosynthesis.  The most familiar chromoplast is the CHLOROPLAST, which contains the pigment chlorophyll.  Use green M&Ms to represent chloroplasts.  Remember that only plant cells have chromoplasts.
  8. Plant cells also have a CENTRAL VACUOLE in the center, which is like a balloon  filled with liquid.  This vacuole is responsible for maintaining the plant’s turgor pressure, which keeps the plant from wilting.  Use a Peachie-O to represent the central vacuole on your cookie cell.
  9.  GOLGI BODIES (or Golgi appparatus) are flattened membrane sacs that store fats and proteins.  Use a Twizzer bite to represent a Golgi body on your cell.
  10. CENTRIOLES are mostly found in animal cells.  They form flagella, and theyare also involved in the reproduction of cells by cell division.  Since they look like X’s, use the cereal X to add a centriole to your cookie cell.
  11. The NUCLEUS holds the cell’s main DNA – the code that  determines all the characteristics of the organism.  Inside the nucleus is the NUCLEOLUS, where the  is made.  Use two same color fruit slices together to make a nucleus for your cell.  Insert a Hot Tamale between the two to represent the nucleus.   

You can substitute ingredients and use whatever supplies you have on hand. You can make an inedible cell model using modeling clay, or a pizza version using sauce for the membrane and cheese for the cytoplasm.  Don’t forget to send me a picture of your finished product before you eat it, and I will post it in our photo gallery.

OK, ready to look at some real cells?

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