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.
- Modeling clay
- 9-inch square baking dish
- Sticky notes
- Pen
- Toothpicks
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.
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.
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.
Write the word "Cytoplasm" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into the clay cytoplasm.
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.
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.
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.
Write the words "Nucleus" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into the clay nucleus.
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.
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.
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.
Write the words "Vacuole" onto a sticky note, then press the sticky note onto a toothpick. Insert the toothpick into the clay vacuole.
Things You'll Need
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