7th Grade Cell City Project

Entire Project Due: Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Presentations: October 25-28

Cell City Project

Cells contain many parts that have to work together in order for the cell to survive. Each part of the cell has a specific role. If one part of the cell doesn’t do its job, it affects the entire cell in a negative way. We can compare a cell to a city. Like cells, cities can be broken down into different parts. These different parts must work together in order for the city to run smoothly. What would happen if the trash was never picked up or the dumpsters never emptied? The city would stink!! What would happen if the energy power plants decided to take a day off? All of these parts are very important! You will see that all of the parts in a cell, like a city, are very important as well.

Task Explanations

  1. Cell City Map Due: Friday, October 7, 2011

Plan and create a rough draft blueprint of your cell city. It should include the following:

  • Labels of all cell organelles and their corresponding city structures
  • Name of city (Be creative!)

You may want to make a rough draft first, as you will be graded for neatness as well as accuracy! Your map may be done in pencil, pen, or marker as long as it is neatly done. You will be constructing a model from your map.

  1. Make a poster model of your cell city with materials from home.

Due: Thursday, October 19, 2011

Be sure to label all cell organelles and corresponding city structures. Your model should look like your blueprint but neater and in color. Please make sure the proper heading including your name date and class period are on the back top right corners of all of your work BEFORE it is turned in!

  1. Chose one of the following careers and complete the job associated with that role. Rough Draft Due: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
  • Travel Agent
  • Newspaper Journalist/Newscaster
  • Musician/Poet

Career Job Descriptions
Travel Agent
Brochure Instructions:
1. Create a tri-fold brochure on the computer
2. Include your "Cell City" name.
3. Describe the attractions of your city. These would be the organelles that people would come to visit.
You will need to describe the structure and function of at least 5 organelles.
4. Include illustrations of the attractions of your city. They can be hand-drawn or a photo from your city.
5. Present highlights to the class.

Newspaper Journalist / Newscaster
Newspaper article / Newscast story:
1. Neatlytype your article(s).
2. Name your newspaper or TV station.
3. Create stories about what is happening in "Cell City". Be creative. Try an eye-catching headline or idea.

  • Emergency in an organelle
  • Award winning organelle for services
  • Sports event or hall of fame

4. You must describe the structure and function of at least 5 organelles in your article(s) or news story.
5. Read story to class or perform a newscast.

Musician/Poet
Song Instructions:
1. Neatlytype the lyrics to your "Cell City" song using a familiar tune.

2. You must describe the structure and function of at least 5 organelles in your song.

3. Perform your song for the class.

Poem Instructions:
1. Neatly type the words to your "Cell City" poem.
2. You must describe the structure and function of at least 5 organelles in your poem.
3. Recite your poem for the class.

All living organisms are composed of cells, from just one too many trillions, whose details usually are visible only through a microscope. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

A. cells function similarly in all living organisms.

B. the characteristics that distinguish plant cells from animal cells, including chloroplasts and cell walls.

C. the nucleus is the repository for genetic information in plant and animal cells.

D. mitochondria liberate energy for the work that cells do and chloroplasts capture sunlight energy for photosynthesis.

Cell Organelles / City Analogies
Cell Membrane / City border
Cell Wall / City Wall
Cytoplasm / Lawns
Endoplasmic Reticulum / Highway or road system
Ribosomes / Lumber or brick yard
Golgi Bodies / Post Office or UPS
Chloroplasts / Solar Energy Plants
Nuclear Membrane / City Hall Fence with security guard
Mitochondria / Energy Plants
Nucleus / City Hall
DNA / Original Blueprints or the city
RNA / Copies of Blueprints
Nucleolus / Copy Machine
Lysosomes / Waste Disposal/ Recyclers
Vacuole / Warehouses, water towers or garbage dumps
Protoplasm / Air or atmosphere
Chromosomes / Rolled up blueprints
Proteins / Lumber

*Please note that various parts of the project are due each week, so that I may check each student’s progress.

Student has Completed a Cell City / All parts included
5 / 1-2 parts missing
4 / 3-4 parts missing
3 / 5-8 parts missing
2 / 8+ missing
1
Student has 5 organelles in their career / All done
5 / 1 missing
4 / 2 missing
3 / 3 missing
2 / 4+ missing
1
Cell City Map/ Blueprint / All parts included
3 / Some parts missing
2 / Many parts missing
1
City Parts Labeling on Project / All parts labeled
3 / Some parts labeled
2 / Many parts not labeled
1
Cell Parts Labeling on Project / All parts labeled
3 / Some parts labeled
2 / Many parts not labeled
1
Quality and Creativity / Neat & colorful, legible, creative, accurate & to scale
3 / Could improve on neatness, use more color or make parts more realistic or accurate
2 / Slightly colorless or messy; cell parts make no attempt to be accurate.
1
Project Presentation / Thorough understanding of cell and presents project accurately
3 / Somewhat understands cell and presents project accurately
2 / Little understanding of cell and makes presentation
1

Your Score: ______/25. Counts 3 x = ______/75

Grade:______