Cell-ebrating the Holidays
in Ms. Castro’s Ag Bio
Class!
Happy holidays! This wonderful time of
year is all about appreciating the ones we
love, and the most amazing thing about
the ones we love; mom, dad, sister,
brother, grandma, grandpa, even our dog
Sarge are all made up of the same basic
unit of life… CELLS! So let’s cell-ebrate this
amazing scientific phenomena!
Trees in a forest, fish in a river, horseflies on a farm, lemurs in the jungle, reeds in
a pond, worms in the soil — all these plants and animals are made of the building
blocks we call cells. Like these examples, many living things consist of vast
numbers of cells working in conjunction with one another.
Cells share many common features, yet they can look wildly different. In fact, cells
have adapted over billions of years to a wide array of environments and
functional roles. Inside each of our cells are specialized organelles that help
carrying out the cells purpose.
Label the animal cell
Cell Organelles:
Cell Membrane
Cytoplasm
Endoplasmic reticulum
Ribosomes
Golgi apparatus
Nucleus
Nucleolus
Mitochondria
Lysosomes
Vacuoles
Ornament Cell Model Key
Background: You will independently create an animal cell model inside of a clear
crafting ornament. The cell model will include an ooey gooey slime filled cytoplasm and
10 unique organelles. Prior to beginning the construction of your cell model you need to
create an animal cell model key.
Cell Model Key Materials:
2 Index Cards
Glue stick/Hot Glue
Scissors
“Inside My Animal Cell” organelle list (see last page)
Hole punch
String
Pieces to represent your organelles
*(clay, beads, piper cleaners, pom poms, rubber bands, paper clips, hot glue, etc.)
Instructions: Glue the two index cards together with both line sides facing in. Next snip
the top two corners of your index card to make a holiday gift tag that will hang off your
ornament model. Use the hole punch to punch a hole in between your two snipped
corners. Cut the “inside my animal cell” organelle key printed below along the dotted
lines. Glue the key to your gift tag. Flip your gift tag over and write:
To: Santa
From: Your Name
Make a loop using string through the hole in your tag. This will be used to attach your
tag to your animal cell model ornament.
Now for the fun part! Using the materials set up on the front table decide which items
will represent each of your unique organelles. Hot glue the item to your key directly in
front of the organelle it represents. Get creative!
Ex: Inside My Animal Cell
Cell Membrane
Cytoplasm
Endoplasmic
reticulum
Ribosomes
Golgi apparatus
Nucleus
Nucleolus
Mitochondria
Lysosomes
Vacuoles
Ornament Cell Model
CELL-EBRATE! To create your cell model you will use your model key as a guide.
Step 1: Collect a plastic ornament, carefully remove the silver cap.
Step 2: Collect ingredients to make your cytoplasm you will need to fill you ornament
with 2 tbs of clear Elmer’s glue. Then add 1 tsp of borax into a small dixie cup of 3 tbs of
warm water, stir until the borax is dissolved then slowly pour the water borax solution
into your ornament while continuously stirring the solution with your wooden stir stick.
You should have a jelly like goo. Add in a single drop of food coloring (you may choose
your color). Stir all ingredients until they are mixed thoroughly.
Step 3: Replicate each of the organelles you used on your animal cell model key. Place
the organelles into the cytoplasm inside of the ornament or cell membrane. Use the
wooden stir stick to make sure they are placed where you would like them.
Step 4: Secure your silver ornament top back on the top of your ornament.
Step 5: Add your tag to the top your ornament
FINAL STEP! Hurray you are almost done!
Step 6: Find some prime real estate on our tree and hang that bad boy up!
Inside My Animal Cell
Cytoplasm
Endoplasmic reticulum
Ribosomes
Golgi apparatus
Nucleus
Nucleolus
Mitochondria
Lysosomes
Vacuoles
Centrioles
