How To Make A 3-D Model Of A Plant Cell With Labels

Children learn more effectively when given hands-on activities and projects to complete that are not lecture-based. For example, provide kids with a project constructing a 3-D model of a plant cell out of a few basic arts and crafts materials instead of teaching them about plant anatomy from a book. Make 3-D plant cell models even more educational by inserting labels into the cell parts to show the children what the different cell parts are called.

Step 1

Press 1/2 pound of green modeling clay into the inside of a 9-inch square baking dish, pushing the clay up the sides of the dish. This is the cell wall of the plant cell.

Step 2

Write the words "Cell Wall" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into the clay cell wall.

Step 3

Press 1 pound of yellow modeling clay into the dish, leaving the sides of the cell wall exposed. This is the cytoplasm of the plant cell.

Step 4

Write the word "Cytoplasm" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into the clay cytoplasm.

Step 5

Form 1/4 ounce of green modeling clay into an oval, then flatten the oval with your hands. Press the oval of green clay onto the cytoplasm. This is a chloroplast in the plant cell. Repeat to add four to five chloroplasts into the plant cell.

Step 6

Write the words "Chloroplast" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into one of the clay chloroplasts.

Step 7

Form 2 ounces of red modeling clay into a sphere, then flatten the sphere with your hands. Press the red disc onto the cytoplasm. This is the nucleus of the plant cell.

Step 8

Write the words "Nucleus" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into the clay nucleus.

Step 9

Roll out 1 ounce of purple modeling clay into a thin coil, then wind the coil into a spiral. Press the spiral onto the cytoplasm. This is a Golgi body inside of the plant cell. Repeat to add on three to four Golgi bodies.

Step 10

Write the words "Golgi Body" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into one of the clay Golgi bodies.

Step 11

Form 4 ounces of blue modeling clay into a trapezoidal shape, then press the form onto the cytoplasm near the edge of the plant cell wall. This is the vacuole of the plant cell.

Step 12

Write the words "Vacuole" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into the clay vacuole.