Cell City: Building a Functional Metropolis
Created byMariabeatrice Coscelli
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Cell City: Building a Functional Metropolis

Grade 10Science4 days
In this project, students design a 'Cell City' to illustrate the interconnected functions of cell organelles, drawing parallels between cellular components and city infrastructure. Students will research individual organelles, create city-cell analogies, and explore the distinctions between plant and animal cells to construct their model. The final product involves building a physical or digital model of a cell city, accompanied by a detailed explanation of organelle functions and the role of the cell membrane as a selective barrier.
Cell OrganellesCell CityPlant CellsAnimal CellsCell MembraneAnalogyCell Structure
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.In what ways can we design a model cell city that effectively demonstrates the interconnected functions of organelles, mirroring the essential operations of a city, while also highlighting the unique differences between plant and animal 'city' designs?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How do the organelles in a cell work together to keep the cell alive and functioning?
  • How can we compare the structures and functions of cell organelles to the different parts of a city?
  • What are the main differences between plant and animal cells, and how do these differences affect their functions?
  • How does the cell membrane control what enters and exits the cell, and why is this important?
  • How can a cell be like a city?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to describe the structure and function of cell organelles.
  • Students will be able to compare the functions of cell organelles to the functions of city infrastructure.
  • Students will be able to explain the differences between plant and animal cells.
  • Students will be able to design a model of a cell city.
  • Students will be able to explain how the cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Cell City Under Construction

**Urban Planning Crisis:** A renowned cell biologist (played by the teacher) announces that the original blueprints for Cell City have been lost, and the city is in utter chaos! Students, as newly appointed urban planners, must work to redesign the city, ensuring all essential functions are restored by correctly placing organelles.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Organelle Blueprint

Students will research and create detailed descriptions of individual organelles, focusing on their structure and function. This activity will ensure each student understands the basic components of a cell before building the city.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Assign each student (or small group) a specific organelle to research (e.g., nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum).
2. Students use textbooks, online resources, and other materials to gather information about the assigned organelle.
3. Students create a fact sheet that includes a labeled diagram of the organelle and a written description of its structure and function.
4. Students share their fact sheets with the class to create a comprehensive guide to cell organelles.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA set of illustrated fact sheets, each detailing a specific organelle's structure and function.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to describe the structure and function of cell organelles.
Activity 2

City-Cell Analogy

Students will brainstorm and develop analogies between cell organelles and city infrastructure. This activity requires students to think critically about how different parts of a city perform functions similar to those of organelles.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Begin with a class discussion on the functions of different parts of a city (e.g., power plant, city hall, roads).
2. Divide students into groups and assign each group a set of organelles.
3. Groups brainstorm and identify city structures that perform functions analogous to their assigned organelles.
4. Groups create a chart that lists the organelle, its function, the analogous city structure, and an explanation of the analogy.
5. Each group presents their analogies to the class, and the class discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each analogy.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA chart comparing cell organelles to city infrastructure, explaining the analogous functions.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to compare the functions of cell organelles to the functions of city infrastructure.
Activity 3

Plant vs. Animal City

Students will investigate the unique structures found in plant and animal cells and explain how these differences affect their functions. This activity prepares them to design different 'city' layouts for plant and animal cells.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Review the basic structures and functions of both plant and animal cells.
2. Provide students with resources (textbooks, diagrams, online resources) that highlight the differences between plant and animal cells.
3. Students create a Venn diagram that compares and contrasts plant and animal cells, focusing on key structures and their functions.
4. Students write a short paragraph explaining how the structural differences between plant and animal cells lead to functional differences.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA Venn diagram comparing and contrasting plant and animal cells, with a focus on structures like cell walls, chloroplasts, and vacuoles.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to explain the differences between plant and animal cells.
Activity 4

Cell City Design & Border Control

Students will design and build a model of a cell city, incorporating all the knowledge they have gained about organelles, their functions, and the differences between plant and animal cells. They will also explain how the cell membrane acts as the city's border control, regulating the movement of substances.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Students choose whether to design a plant cell city or an animal cell city.
2. Students sketch a blueprint of their cell city, indicating the location of each organelle and its analogous city structure.
3. Students build a physical or digital model of their cell city using materials like cardboard, construction paper, modeling clay, or digital design software.
4. Students write a detailed explanation of their cell city, including the function of each organelle and its analogous city structure. They also explain how the cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.
5. Students present their cell city models to the class, explaining their design choices and the functions of the different parts of their city.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA physical or digital model of a cell city, complete with labeled organelles and a written explanation of how the cell membrane functions as a selective barrier.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goals: Students will be able to design a model of a cell city; Students will be able to explain how the cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Cell City Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Organelle Blueprint

Assessment of the accuracy, completeness, and presentation quality of the organelle fact sheets.
Criterion 1

Structural Accuracy

Accuracy of the fact sheet in detailing the organelle's structure.

Exemplary
4 Points

Fact sheet contains detailed and accurate diagrams and descriptions, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the organelle's structure.

Proficient
3 Points

Fact sheet contains accurate diagrams and descriptions, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the organelle's structure.

Developing
2 Points

Fact sheet contains basic diagrams and descriptions, showing an emerging understanding of the organelle's structure.

Beginning
1 Points

Fact sheet contains incomplete or inaccurate diagrams and descriptions, indicating an initial understanding of the organelle's structure.

Criterion 2

Functional Clarity

Completeness and clarity of the fact sheet in explaining the organelle's function.

Exemplary
4 Points

Fact sheet comprehensively explains the organelle's function with clarity, integrating advanced concepts and demonstrating exceptional critical thinking.

Proficient
3 Points

Fact sheet clearly explains the organelle's function, demonstrating effective critical thinking and providing clear evidence.

Developing
2 Points

Fact sheet provides a basic explanation of the organelle's function, showing basic critical thinking and providing limited evidence.

Beginning
1 Points

Fact sheet provides an incomplete or unclear explanation of the organelle's function, demonstrating minimal critical thinking and providing insufficient evidence.

Criterion 3

Presentation & Organization

Overall presentation and organization of the fact sheet.

Exemplary
4 Points

Fact sheet is exceptionally well-organized, visually appealing, and presented in a highly professional manner, enhancing understanding and engagement.

Proficient
3 Points

Fact sheet is well-organized, visually appealing, and presented in a professional manner, aiding understanding and engagement.

Developing
2 Points

Fact sheet is adequately organized and presented, but may lack visual appeal or clarity in some areas.

Beginning
1 Points

Fact sheet is poorly organized and presented, making it difficult to understand or engage with the content.

Category 2

City-Cell Analogy

Assessment of the quality and clarity of analogies made between cell organelles and city infrastructure.
Criterion 1

Analogy Strength

Strength and relevance of the analogies between cell organelles and city infrastructure.

Exemplary
4 Points

Analogies are highly insightful and innovative, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of both organelle and city functions.

Proficient
3 Points

Analogies are relevant and appropriate, demonstrating a thorough understanding of both organelle and city functions.

Developing
2 Points

Analogies are somewhat relevant, showing an emerging understanding of both organelle and city functions.

Beginning
1 Points

Analogies are weak or irrelevant, indicating an initial understanding of either organelle or city functions.

Criterion 2

Explanation Depth

Clarity and depth of the explanation of the analogous functions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Explanations are exceptionally clear, detailed, and insightful, providing comprehensive evidence of a deep understanding of the functional similarities.

Proficient
3 Points

Explanations are clear and detailed, providing clear evidence of a thorough understanding of the functional similarities.

Developing
2 Points

Explanations are somewhat clear but lack detail, providing limited evidence of an emerging understanding of the functional similarities.

Beginning
1 Points

Explanations are unclear and lack detail, providing insufficient evidence of an initial understanding of the functional similarities.

Criterion 3

Chart Organization

Effectiveness of the chart in presenting the analogies in an organized manner.

Exemplary
4 Points

Chart is exceptionally well-organized, visually appealing, and effectively presents the analogies in a clear and concise manner.

Proficient
3 Points

Chart is well-organized and effectively presents the analogies in a clear and concise manner.

Developing
2 Points

Chart is adequately organized but may lack clarity or conciseness in some areas.

Beginning
1 Points

Chart is poorly organized and difficult to understand, hindering the presentation of the analogies.

Category 3

Plant vs. Animal City

Assessment of the understanding of structural and functional differences between plant and animal cells.
Criterion 1

Comparative Accuracy

Accuracy of the Venn diagram in comparing and contrasting plant and animal cells.

Exemplary
4 Points

Venn diagram accurately and comprehensively compares and contrasts plant and animal cells, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of their differences and similarities.

Proficient
3 Points

Venn diagram accurately compares and contrasts plant and animal cells, demonstrating a thorough understanding of their differences and similarities.

Developing
2 Points

Venn diagram partially compares and contrasts plant and animal cells, showing an emerging understanding of their differences and similarities.

Beginning
1 Points

Venn diagram inaccurately or incompletely compares and contrasts plant and animal cells, indicating an initial understanding of their differences and similarities.

Criterion 2

Functional Explanation

Clarity and depth of the paragraph explaining the functional consequences of structural differences.

Exemplary
4 Points

Paragraph provides an exceptionally clear and insightful explanation of how structural differences lead to functional differences, demonstrating advanced integration of skills.

Proficient
3 Points

Paragraph provides a clear and detailed explanation of how structural differences lead to functional differences, integrating skills successfully.

Developing
2 Points

Paragraph provides a basic explanation of how structural differences lead to functional differences, showing partial skill integration.

Beginning
1 Points

Paragraph provides an unclear or incomplete explanation of how structural differences lead to functional differences, showing limited skill integration.

Criterion 3

Presentation Quality

Overall presentation and organization of the Venn diagram and paragraph.

Exemplary
4 Points

Venn diagram and paragraph are exceptionally well-organized, visually appealing, and presented in a highly professional manner.

Proficient
3 Points

Venn diagram and paragraph are well-organized, visually appealing, and presented in a professional manner.

Developing
2 Points

Venn diagram and paragraph are adequately organized and presented, but may lack visual appeal or clarity in some areas.

Beginning
1 Points

Venn diagram and paragraph are poorly organized and presented, making it difficult to understand or engage with the content.

Category 4

Cell City Design & Border Control

Assessment of the cell city model's design, explanation, and understanding of the cell membrane's function.
Criterion 1

Model Design

Creativity and accuracy in the design of the cell city model.

Exemplary
4 Points

Model design is exceptionally creative and accurately represents the functions and relationships of cell organelles, demonstrating innovative application of concepts.

Proficient
3 Points

Model design is creative and accurately represents the functions and relationships of cell organelles, applying concepts appropriately.

Developing
2 Points

Model design is somewhat creative and represents the basic functions of cell organelles, applying concepts inconsistently.

Beginning
1 Points

Model design lacks creativity and inaccurately represents the functions of cell organelles, struggling with concept application.

Criterion 2

Model Explanation

Clarity and completeness of the explanation of the cell city model, including the function of each organelle and its analogous city structure.

Exemplary
4 Points

Explanation is exceptionally clear, detailed, and insightful, providing comprehensive evidence of a deep understanding of cell functions and analogies.

Proficient
3 Points

Explanation is clear and detailed, providing clear evidence of a thorough understanding of cell functions and analogies.

Developing
2 Points

Explanation is somewhat clear but lacks detail, providing limited evidence of an emerging understanding of cell functions and analogies.

Beginning
1 Points

Explanation is unclear and lacks detail, providing insufficient evidence of an initial understanding of cell functions and analogies.

Criterion 3

Border Control Explanation

Accuracy and depth of the explanation of how the cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Exemplary
4 Points

Explanation is exceptionally accurate and thoroughly explains the mechanisms of cell membrane transport, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the concept.

Proficient
3 Points

Explanation is accurate and clearly explains the mechanisms of cell membrane transport, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the concept.

Developing
2 Points

Explanation is somewhat accurate but lacks detail in explaining the mechanisms of cell membrane transport, showing an emerging understanding of the concept.

Beginning
1 Points

Explanation is inaccurate or incomplete, indicating an initial understanding of the mechanisms of cell membrane transport.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How did your understanding of cell organelles change as you worked on the Cell City project?

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Question 2

What was the most challenging part of designing your Cell City, and how did you overcome it?

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Question 3

How effective was the analogy between cell organelles and city infrastructure in helping you understand the functions of the cell?

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Question 4

What is one thing you would do differently if you were to redesign your Cell City?

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Question 5

How did working on this project help you understand the differences between plant and animal cells?

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