Mix and cook until the dough leaves the side of pan. Cool on plate with wet cloth on top.

Oven method: Bake @ 150 F overnight.

** To color play-doe use food coloring or tempera paints. (Using rubber or disposable gloves is a good idea.)

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

1. After studying cell structure, divide the class into small groups.
2. Gather all materials and have them laid out according to the number of student groups. (See material list below.)
3. Distribute materials and lists of cell structures to each group.
4. Inform groups they will be making two cells -- one plant and one animal cell. When they finish, each cell will be about the size of a tennis ball. The first part of the class period will be spent making the cell structures themselves. Instruct them to wait before putting the cells together until you can explain the procedure. Have group leaders assign responsibility, for each cell part, to the group members. (The cell structure list also includes possible materials which could be used. These materials could be expanded or substituted.)
5. Have the "cell membrane people" cut the large piece of plastic wrap in half and place each piece on the table.
6. Have the "cytoplasm people" form 2 balls using the plain play-doe or clay. Lay 1 ball on each piece of plastic wrap and press each into a "pancake" about 6".
7. Instruct them to designate one pancake, "animal cell" and the other "plant cell".
8. Have members of each group find the supplies they need to represent their cell structures, cut, form, fold, paste, etc. until their structure is simulated. Then place the finished structures in a pile on the center of the appropriate pancake. (Exception -- cell wall)
9. When all of the cell parts are completed and in place, have someone in each group "gather up" the pancake carefully cupping it around its "topping" and seal all of the edges together forming a ball. Next have the "cell membrane people" wrap the plastic wrap around the cytoplasm and have the "cell wall people" wrap the aluminum foil around the plant cell.
10. Depending on the length of time available, cells may be set aside for the next class period or each may be cut in half with a large knife right away.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:

The students are excited to see their parts in the cell and this leads to an excellent opportunity for students to share ideas, reasons, and information with the groups and the class. This is also an ideal opportunity to compare the similarities and differences of the two types of cells. I usually pick a couple of the best ones to be put in the display case for future years. The play- doe will harden. This activity works equally well as a structured, teacher directed activity or a creative small group or individual endeavor; the students' own experience and knowledge are the only determinants.

May 1994

These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.