Created byPrabir Vora

1 views0 downloads

Cell City: 3D Organelle Models

Grade 6Science3 days

Students explore the intricate world of cells by designing a 3D city model representing the structure and function of organelles. Through this project, they learn about the interdependence of organelles within plant and animal cells, using analogical reasoning to compare cell functions to city components. The project culminates in constructing a 3D model, accompanied by research and presentations.

Cell BiologyOrganelles3D ModelingAnalogical ReasoningPlant CellsAnimal CellsInterdependence

Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.

📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a 3D city model that effectively represents the structures and functions of a cell's organelles and demonstrates the interdependencies between them, highlighting the differences between plant and animal cells?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

How do the different parts of a cell work together to keep it alive?
What is the main function of each organelle within a cell?
How are plant and animal cells similar and different in terms of their organelles?
Can you create an analogy to a city to help explain how a cell functions?
How does the structure of an organelle relate to its function in the cell?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will be able to identify and describe the function of major cell organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles, cell membrane, cell wall, chloroplasts).
Students will be able to compare and contrast plant and animal cells, explaining the unique functions of specific organelles.
Students will be able to create an analogy between a cell and a city, demonstrating the interconnectedness of cellular components.
Students will be able to design and construct a 3D model of a plant or animal cell, accurately labeling and representing the organelles.

Teacher Provided Standard

CellStructureAndFunction

Primary

Parts of a CellReason: Directly related to identifying and describing the functions of cell organelles.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Mysterious Box Challenge

Present students with a mysterious box containing various everyday objects (e.g., a battery, a control panel, a storage container). Challenge them to figure out how these objects relate to the different parts of a cell and their functions. This sparks curiosity and encourages systems thinking.

📚

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Organelle Trading Cards

Students will research and create informational trading cards for each organelle, detailing its structure and function.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Choose a cell organelle to research.

2. Gather information about the organelle's structure and function from reliable sources.

3. Create a trading card with a visual representation of the organelle on one side and a description of its structure and function on the other.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA set of trading cards, one for each organelle, with accurate information and visuals.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsStudents will be able to identify and describe the function of major cell organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles, cell membrane, cell wall, chloroplasts).

Activity 2

Cell City Comparison

Students will work in pairs to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting plant and animal cells. They will use their organelle trading cards as a reference.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Review the organelle trading cards and identify organelles common to both plant and animal cells.

2. Determine the unique organelles found only in plant cells or animal cells.

3. Construct a Venn diagram, placing shared organelles in the overlapping section and unique organelles in their respective sections.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA Venn diagram visually representing the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsStudents will be able to compare and contrast plant and animal cells, explaining the unique functions of specific organelles.

Activity 3

City Analogy

Students will brainstorm and create analogies between cell organelles and parts of a city. This activity helps them understand the interconnectedness of cellular components.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Choose a city to use as your analogy for a cell.

2. Match each cell organelle to a part of the city that performs a similar function.

3. Write a detailed explanation of your city analogy, clearly explaining the connection between each organelle and its corresponding city component.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA written explanation of the chosen city analogy, explaining how each organelle corresponds to a part of the city and why.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsStudents will be able to create an analogy between a cell and a city, demonstrating the interconnectedness of cellular components.

Activity 4

3D Cell Model Construction

Students will design and build a 3D model of either a plant or animal cell using various materials. They will label each organelle and provide a brief description of its function.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Decide whether to build a plant or animal cell model.

2. Gather materials for constructing the model (e.g., clay, cardboard, pipe cleaners, beads).

3. Build the 3D model, ensuring that all major organelles are represented and accurately positioned.

4. Label each organelle and provide a concise description of its function.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA 3D cell model with accurately labeled organelles and descriptions of their functions.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsStudents will be able to design and construct a 3D model of a plant or animal cell, accurately labeling and representing the organelles.

🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Cell City Project Rubric

Category 1

Understanding of Cell Organelles

Assesses the ability to identify and accurately describe the function of cell organelles.

Criterion 1

Identification of Organelles

Identifies major organelles in plant and animal cells.

Exemplary

4 Points

Accurately identifies all major organelles in both plant and animal cells.

Proficient

3 Points

Identifies most major organelles in both plant and animal cells.

Developing

2 Points

Identifies some major organelles, but with inaccuracies.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to identify major organelles.

Criterion 2

Description of Organelles

Provides accurate and detailed descriptions of organelle functions.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides detailed and accurate descriptions for all organelle functions.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides accurate descriptions for most organelle functions.

Developing

2 Points

Provides basic descriptions with some inaccuracies.

Beginning

1 Points

Provides incomplete or inaccurate descriptions.

Category 2

Analogical Thinking

Evaluates the creativity and accuracy of analogies made between the cell and a city.

Criterion 1

Relevance of City Analogy

Creates accurate analogies between organelles and city components.

Exemplary

4 Points

All analogies are clear and accurately reflect organelle functions.

Proficient

3 Points

Most analogies are clear and accurately reflect organelle functions.

Developing

2 Points

Some analogies are unclear or inaccurately reflect functions.

Beginning

1 Points

Analogies are unclear or mostly inaccurate.

Category 3

Construction and Presentation

Assesses the quality of the 3D model and its presentation.

Criterion 1

Accuracy of Model

Constructs a 3D model that accurately represents the cell and its organelles.

Exemplary

4 Points

Model is highly accurate with all organelles properly represented and placed.

Proficient

3 Points

Model is mostly accurate with most organelles properly represented and placed.

Developing

2 Points

Model has several inaccuracies or missing organelles.

Beginning

1 Points

Model is largely inaccurate or incomplete.

Criterion 2

Presentation and Labeling

Effectively labels organelles and explains model construction.

Exemplary

4 Points

All organelles are clearly labeled with concise, accurate explanations.

Proficient

3 Points

Most organelles are clearly labeled with accurate explanations.

Developing

2 Points

Labels are unclear or explanations are inaccurate or incomplete.

Beginning

1 Points

Labels are mostly missing or incorrect.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

Reflect on the entire "Cell City" project. What were your key takeaways regarding cell structure and function?

Text

Required

Question 2

What challenges did you encounter during this project, and how did you overcome them?

Text

Required

Question 3

How did the process of creating analogies between cell organelles and city components enhance your understanding of cell functions and interdependencies?

Text

Required

Question 4

How effective was your 3D model in representing the structures and functions of a plant or animal cell?

Scale

Required

Question 5

If you were to redesign your 3D cell model, what improvements would you make?

Text

Optional

Question 6

Which activity in this project did you find most engaging and why?

Multiple choice

Required

Options

Mysterious Box Challenge

Organelle Trading Cards

Cell City Comparison

City Analogy

3D Cell Model Construction