Student Name: ________________

Due Date: _____________

Parent Signature: ______________

Date: _________________

Wetumpka Middle School

Life Science Activities
Topics: Plant and Animal Cells
Structure and Modeling
Possible Materials List
Toothpicks
Yarn
Clay
Foam, various types
Fabric strips, any size
Clear plastic containers
Packing peanuts
Cardboard
Cardstock
Straws (small)
Glue
Markers or crayons
Marbles or beads
Pipe cleaners
Buttons
Related Content Standards:

ALCOS: 5.7 Identify common parts

of plant and animal cells, including
the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell
membrane.
Comparing unicellular and
multicellular organisms
Comparing plant and animal cells

3-D Cell Model Project

Objective: By making a 3-D model of the cell, students will
become aware of the various organelles and structures that
make up a plant or animal cell.

Guidelines:
You may choose to make either a plant or animal cell.
Your cell must be 3-dimensional, as was shown in class.
This means it needs to have a front, back, and sides. It cant
be a piece of paper with things glued on it. Your plant cell
must be rectangular and/or your animal cell must be circular.
All parts of your cell must be labeled clearly in order to
receive credit; I suggest using toothpicks and pieces of paper
to make little flags, as was shown in class.
Your representations of the organelles must be similar to
the ones seen in class. For example, your nucleus may not
be square. Refer to your textbook for diagrams of plant and
animals cells that we have gone over in class.

Why build a model of a cell?

Modeling provides an opportunity for you to translate and to
communicate scientific information in a meaningful way that
strengthens observation skills.

Use the attached rubric to see which organelles need to be present, accurate, and
labeled. You will turn your copy of the rubric when you turn in your 3-D model.

Mrs. Hinton

Student Name: ______________

Cell model is 3dimensional and
shows all of the cell
parts of a plant or
animal cell; very
neatly done; shows
attention to details

20pts

A typed list of all of

the definitions of a
plant or animal cell
are included and
there are no
spelling
errors in the list
15pts
Model is made
entirely from
materials that are
representative of
the original
organelle shapes.
5 pts

Overall, the model

shows a great
understanding of
the structure and
function of living
cells
10 pts

Animal Cell or Plant Cell (circle one)

Cell model is 3
dimensional and
shows most of the
cell parts of a plant
or animal cell;
neatly done with
some attention to
details
18pts

Cell model is 3
dimensional and
show most of the
cell parts of a plant
or animal cell;
neatness is good
but
improvements
could
be made; some
details missing
15pts
A typed list of most A list of several of
of the definitions of the definitions of a
a plant or animal
plant or animal cell
cell are included
are included and
and there are 1 or 2 there are 3 or 4
spelling errors in
spelling errors in
the list
the list; list may or
13pts
may not be typed
11 pts
Model is made
Model is made up
almost entirely from somewhat from
materials that are
materials that are
representative of
representative of
the original
the original
organelle shapes.
organelle shapes;
4 pts
improvement is
possible
3 pts
Overall, the model
Overall, the model
shows an above
shows some
average
understanding of
understanding of
the structure and
the structure and
function of living
function of living
cells
cells
7 pts
8 pts

Your total number of points = ______/50 pts. _ Your grade

Teacher Comments:

Cell model may or

may not be 3
dimensional and
shows few of the
cell parts of a plant
or animal cell; not
as neatly done as it
could be; several
details are missing
from the model
13pts
There is no list of
the definitions of a
plant or animal cell
included with this
project
0 pts

Model is not made

from materials that
are representative
of the original
organelle shapes;
much room for
improvement noted
2 pts
Overall, the model
shows a lack of
understanding of
the structure and
function of living
cells
6 pts