Project Due

The Incredible, Edible Cell

Activity purpose October 13
People, dogs, plants, and algae all have something in common. As living things they share one
feature in common, they are all made up of cells. Cells are the building blocks of living things. In this
activity, you will make a model of the cell, plant or animal that is made of edible things.
Cell Requirements
The cell should be entirely edible. A person should be able to eat it, but not necessarily want to eat
it. This means using items that are not palatable together is acceptable. Your project should be able
to make the journey to school and last all day. Sorry, no ice cream cells! Jello makes good cell parts
that can make it to class and last, but you’ll have to add more gelatin than usual for it to survive
outside of the fridge. Your project should be no smaller than 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm. You may make
a plant or an animal cell, but be sure to include the required and appropriate organelles. The
organelles can be made of anything edible, but make sure to use the correct scale. This means,
ribosomes should be very small the nucleus should be large, etc. There will also be a short
presentation requirement where you explain your cell. This may be just to the teacher or it may also
be to the entire class. In the presentation, you will be graded on your ability to speak about your cell
using little or no notes, if possible. You should be familiar enough with your cell and the cell parts that
you do not need notes. If you check the internet with your parents, you will find many cell drawings
and also some ideas for edible cells. At the bottom of this page, I have included some good websites
for cells. This will count as a test grade.
Required Organelles (depending on cell type)

Cell wall Ribosomes Mitochondria

Cytoplasm Endoplasmic reticulum, Lysosome
Cell membrane (rough, smooth, or both) Vacuole
Nucleus Golgi bodies Chloroplast
Other Requirements
• Name
• Identify cell type: plant or animal
• 3-D representation of cell, including proper scale of organelles.
• Correct organelles for cell
• Labels for each organelle. Toothpicks or something similar with flags can be used or you can
creatively come up with your own labeling system. If labels are not used, a key must be
drawn. The key should be neat and colored to match your cell. A sample of a label (or
required label on key) is below.
• Neatness definitely counts so please keep that in mind. If your handwriting is poor, use the
computer to create your labels or even your whole key.
Sample label

Resources for You

MITOCHONDRIA
http://www.cellsalive.com/ Converts food to energy.
http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_main.html
 Grading Rubric

Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Score

1 2 3 4
Cell type is
Cell type is not Cell type is neatly
displayed but
displayed and/or displayed and
Identification of Cell type is not student cannot
student cannot student can
displayed or is completely
Cell Type explain explain
incorrect. explain
differences in cell differences in cell
differences in cell
types. types.
type.
All required
All required
The majority of organelles are
Required organelles are
organelles are included and no
Organelles organelles are not included and no
included. The additional
included and/or additional
organelles may organelles are
organelles are not organelles are
not be clearly included. They
labeled or there is included. They
labeled or have a are neatly labeled
no key. are labeled and/or
color key. and/or there is a
there is a key.
color key.
Student cannot
Student cannot
explain cell or
explain cell or Student did not
organelles without Student can
organelles. require notes
reading off of explain cell and
Student was not during
his/her notes. organelles but
professional or presentation.
Student was not needed notes a
organized. Student was
Presentation professional in few times.
Student could not organized,
presentation. Student was
answer questions professional and
Student did not organized and
about the project able to answer
take presentation professional in
and/or there was questions without
seriously or there presentation.
silliness in any silliness.
was silliness in
presentation.
presentation.
The cell parts
The cell is not
may or may not
very neat. The
The cell is not be easily The cell parts are
labels and/or key
neat. Labels identifiable upon easily identifiable
drawing is needed
Neatness and/or key is viewing but the upon viewing with
to understand the
missing. There is labels/drawing little explanation
cell parts. It is
no evidence that key is clear, neat, from student.
questionable
time or care was and informative. The labels and/or
whether the
taken on the Viewer can see key drawing are
student took
project. that time was neat and legible.
much time on the
taken on the
project.
project.
Timeliness is worth 20% of your grade. One class period late is -20%, after that date (10/13/08), the
project will not be accepted.