Let them eat...Jello?

Cell Structure
One of the Nebraska State Standards is that students will know the form and function of the parts of the cell. I select the 13 that I think are the most important for an animal cell. After we have spent some time discussing the function of each organelle, I try to get them a hands on project to complete so they can remember the functions.

• Nucleus
• Nucleolus
• Vacuoles/vesicles
• Lysosomes
• Cytoskeleton
• Centriole
• Ribosomes
• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Golgi Apparatus
• Mitochondria
• Cell Membranes
• Cytoplasm

 The final activity we do as a class is to make a model of a cell. I have seen lots of other classes make models of cells using things like paper, a cookie/cake with frosting or clay. However, the aspect of cells that I think students really miss out on is how fluid a cell really is. They see cells under a microscope and everything seems stuck in place and not moving, they see a diagram of a cell and everything is just sitting there and they make a cookie model and everything is just stuck there. However, cells are extremely fluid and everything in the cell is moving all the time. To help show this idea I have my students make a jello cell.(I show this video to get the point across as well).

Here is the outline of the project:

1. Gallon bag = Cell membrane (the bag regulates what comes in and out of the "cell")
2. Cytoplasm = lemon jello (fluid and allows for movement)
3. Plum = Nucleus (The plum has a pit and skin like the nucleolus and nuclear membrane.)
4. Peanut M&Ms = Vesicles (The peanut M&Ms store and transport the peanut)
5. Lysosomes = Gummy bears (bears break things down)
6. Cytoskeleton = Pull and peel licorice (long and stringy like cytoskeleton)
7. Centriole = licorice nibs (a type of licorice because it is a type of cytoskeleton)
8. Ribosomes = chocolate chips (they are small)
9. Rough ER = fruit roll-up with chocolate chips (looks like a folded membrane sack)
10. Smooth ER = fruit roll-up (same as Rough ER minus the ribosomes)
11. Golgi Apparatus = Fruit by the foot (looks similar to fruit roll-up)
12. Mitochondria = Snickers (gives lots of energy)

The students really enjoyed doing this activity because it was a fun way for them to review the functions of all of the organelles.

 To help this be more than just a screw around and have fun day, each group recorded themselves describing each part of the cycle. I was very proud of how well Block 3 did in their description. Block 3 Jello Cell
Here are the rest of the class videos:
Block 2a
Block 2b
Block 1a
Block 1b

This is also a wonderful way for students to study the functions of the organelles without having to sit and stare at a piece of paper. Once again, it is not trying to memorize the functions, but rather remembering how they described them.Of course, the best part of the activity is when the students get to eat them!!