In this activity, students make 3D models of specialised animal cells, imitating what can be seen under high-resolution microscopes.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- name some animal cells that have distinctive shapes
- describe how these distinctive shapes help the cells carry out their specialised roles
- describe some of the features of cells (e.g. organelles) that are common to all cell types
- discuss how model-building can aid understanding of cell structure and function
- identify which microscopes scientists use to generate 3D cell images.
Download the Word file for:
- introduction/background notes
- what you need
- what to do
- discussion questions
- extension ideas
- student handout.
Nature of science
Scientists create and use models to help us more easily understand something that is mathematical, physical or conceptual. Models help scientists communicate with others and gain a better understanding of how things work.
Activity idea
Explore some of the main organelles within a cell, using your school as an analogy in the activity Inside a cell
