Teacher Page:

This project can be done as a two day, or on-going project. The Team Page and the Activity Page can be done separately if time is limited.   This project could be done anytime during your study of the cell.  Below are some suggested analogies for city structures.  It would be wise to discuss the definition of an analogy with the class. Eighteen organelles are provided. If your class is larger that 36 students, you can combine teams or use additional organelles.

Enrichment activity: Have the students design a giant cell mural on your wall or white/ black board using their organelle/city drawings.

Standards connection: The following California Science Content Standards are related to this lesson:

        Grade 7, Life Science

1. All living organisms are composed of cells, from just one to 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.