Model of a human cell

[sherrardk]

My son needs to make a model of a human cell - any ideas? Thanks (he's in Year 7).

[annie0000]

Does he have any magnetix or anything like that sher? or strux maybe..

[Mosaic]

Do you mean a three-dimensional model? That could be hard.
However, if it's not 'in the round' then you could do several ways:
Make a poster on card with lift-up flaps made of coloured paper - a bit like a pop-up book
Make a collage on stiff paper with different coloured scraps stuk together to make the different laers (no idea what they're called)
Make a flattish cake and ice it in bright colours to explain etc

[sherrardk]

Hi - lost the magnet thingies and it has to be 3d. Usually my husband's job to sort out arty things but he is too busy at the moment. Thanks.

[sherrardk]

Mosaic - any cake I make is flattish.

[saxy_jag]

You could use a foam football as the basis. You should be able to buy one cheaply enough. Cut it in half and use scissors or a kitchen knife to cut out the spaces for things like the nucleus etc.

Actually, for the nucleus, you could use a smaller foam ball of a different colour.

I'm not entirely sure of the proper make-up of a cell. If it needs layers, then you might be struggling with this method.

Of course, there's always good old plasticine.

[sherrardk]

This is the first picture of a cell that I have found - http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/cell1.gif. Going to need to find a much simpler picture!!! (PS - the boy is going to make him self but I need to get the stuff for him.)

[Mosaic]

I think this lad needs to check his homework instructions. His age group's science scheme of work asks for teaching to cover 'plant and animal cells' and 'specialised cells' - check this link for the level of info they will be taught at (unless he's a genius):
http://lgfl.skoool.co...eps/CAFLC/launch.html
Get him to clear up abslutely what kind of cell he has to make a model of.

[sherrardk]

Thanks for the link Mosaic. I can't get it to open on this (iPad) so I will check the link when someone turns on a proper computer or laptop tomorrow.

[sherrardk]

Just said to the boy "are you sure it's a human cell" to which he replied "no, it's a plant or animal cell" - will that be any easier?

[erin-x]

It will probably just be the cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus.. that's the simple one we would get in first year anyway. If it has to be 3D you can just put a marble in a balloon and blow it up.. say the cytoplasm is in there but it's invisible lol..

http://www.google.co....r:15,s:38&tx=75&ty=57 just looks a bit like a fried egg when you draw it lol x

[sherrardk]

Looks a lot more simple than a human cell (thought it was a bit advanced for his second week at secondary school).

[Mosaic]

He could do the plant cell with a shoebox and crinkled crepe paper / crinkled cellophane or clingfilm for the cytowotsit

[erin-x]

The link you put Sher looked more like the cells we were doing in Higher Human biology lol..

[Mosaic]

This is the type of diagram you should work from:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...ages/aqaaddsci_06.gif

[erin-x]

The only other things in a simple plant cell would be a vacuole and chloroplasts. Otherwise just the same as the human x

[Buenchico]

Our American cousins appear to cover this in Grade 5 (= Year 6)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAYDQxHt6G4