---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------August 30, 2007 - Make a Jell-o Cell with your family.

Introduction: 

The cell is the basic structure of living things.  In this activity you will make a model of a cell out of jello, in order to understand its form.

Purpose:

What does a cell look like and what does each part do?

Materials:

Jello and water

container

measuring cup

stirring spoon

fruit

apron

Procedure:

1.  Review parts of the cell with teacher.

2.  Protect clothing with an apron.

3.  Prepare Jello gelatin, (not pudding) according to the directions on the box.  Cool jJello until almost set.

4.  Using your cell picture as a guide, put fruit in jello to represent each cell part.  Try to make your model as real as possible.  chill the Jello completely.

5.  Look up each cell part that you used.  What does it do?

6. Bring to school on Tuesday September 4, 2007, so you can present your models to the class.

Cellular vocabulary

cell membrane – outside boundary of animal cells

nucleus – brain or control center of the cell. Contains DNA or blueprints of cell

endoplastic reticulum or ER – transports proteins and other materials around the cell

golgi body – receives proteins and releases them to other parts of cell or outside the cell

mitochondria – powerhouse of the cell converts food into energy molecules so cell can use it

lysosomes – small, round bodies that contain chemicals that break down materials in the cell

ribosomes – small grain-like bodies that attach to the ER or float freeing cells cytoplasm and make proteins.