Essential Question for the project -- Is the Cell a Quality Design for Success?

Project Summary
Students will know the names of the cell organelles common to most living cells. Students will recognize what these organelles look like when viewed under a microscope. Students will understand how these organelles work together to carry out the essential life functions of each cell. Students will evaluate how cellular design positively affects the success of unicellular and multicellular organanisms.

Students will make a connection between microscopic structures (cell organelles) essential for human life and larger structures with which they are more familiar. Students will create symbolic representations for cell organelles, and they will explain why their symbols well represent the microscopic structures they are studying. Students will demonstrate a personal connection with the information by writing an Ode to their cell organelle. Students will also make a physical representation of the organelle itself.

Project Requirements

1. Each student will choose a partner with whom he or she would like to work.
2. Each team will choose a cell organelle as the subject of their project.
3. Each team of students will create a physical or graphical representation of their cell organelle.
    a. This can be done on a poster.
    b. This can be done in clay.
    c. This can be done in papier mache
    d. This can be done in power point or other computer paint/draw applications.
    e. This can be done as a food product.
4. Each team of students will create a symbolic representation of their cell organelle.
    a. The symbol needs to have a logical connection to the cell organelle which it represents.
    b. Each team must be able to explain the symbol and the cell organelle it represents.
    c. Each team needs to make an 8" by 10" drawing of their symbol.
5.Each team will create an ode to their cell organelle.
    a. The ode must be in poetic form.
    b. The ode must take into account the unique aspects of the organelle and how that organelle functions in
         the overall success of the cell and of the organism.
    c. The ode must be at least 12 lines long.

Project Choices (Each team will select one of the following to do) --
1. Power Point -- Each team has the option to create a power point presentation illustrating their organelle in the context of a cell and of an organism.   The following questions/requirements must be addressed:
    a. What is the name of the organelle? How is that name pronounced?
    b. What is the function of the organelle?
    c. Why is the function of the organelle essential to the life processes of the cell?
    d. How would the function of the organelle be essential to the function of a multi-cellular organism?
    e. Import a photomicrograph of the cell organelle.
    f. Show the symbol you have created for your cell organelle. Explain why your symbol is appropriate
        for your organelle.
    g. Include your ode to your organelle.
    h. Include five good questions about your cell organelle.
    i. Conclusion
    j. List of resources used.
    Double Bonus ** Include animation in your presentation.

2. Design a Web Page -- Each team has the option to contribute to a web site on cell organelles. You contribution will demonstrate your cell organelle in the context of a cell and of an organism. The following questions/requirements must be addressed:
    a. What is the name of the organelle? How is that name pronounced?
    b. What is the function of the organelle?
    c. Why is the function of your organelle essential to the life processes of the cell?
    d. How would the function of the organelle be essential to the function of a multi-cellular organism?
    e. Import a photomicrograph of the cell organelle.
    f. Show the symbol you have created for your cell organelle. Explain why your symbol is appropriate
        for your organelle.
    g. Include your ode to your organelle.
    h. Include five good questions about your cell organelle.
    i. List of resources used.

3. Create a Jeopardy Game (or similar game) -- Each team has the option to create a jeopardy game (or similar game) to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of your cell organelle and how all the organelles work together.
    a. Collect the important cell organelle questions from each group which you will use in your game.
    b. Each category will be one of the essential cell organelles. (Example, cell membranes for $100).
         Take into account the difficulty level of the question.
    c.   This game can be created on posterboard etc. Or it can be done interactively on computer.

4. Create an Electric Cell -- Each team has the option to create an “electric cell.”
    a. A drawing of a typical animal cell and a typical plant cell will go on the front cover of a
         file folder provided by the teacher..
    b. A graphic representation of each cell organelle will be represented on the cell drawing.
        (This can be cutouts of photomicrographs).
    c. Students will make a list of organelles and place these on the left side of the file folder cover.
    d. Students will insert brads beside each of the cell organelles and another brad beside each of the
         names of the cell organelles.
    e. Students will run non-insulated wires behind the front cover, connecting each cell organelle brad
         with each cell organelle name. Each wire will be covered with tape.
    f. When the correct match is made a test light will light up.
    * Please note: This sounds much more complicated than it is. I will have a related model
      which students can easily copy.

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