If You Were a Cell Treasure Hunt

Photo Credit web.jjay.cuny.edu

The Big Question: What would it be like if you were a cell?

In this activity we will examine our 7th grade Life Science Standard 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d,
and 1e.
1. All living organisms are composed of cells, from just one to many trillions, whose
details usually are visible only through a microscope. As a basis for understanding this
concept:
a. Students know cells function similarly in all living organisms.
b. Students know the characteristics that distinguish plant cells from animal cells,
including chloroplasts and cell walls.
c. Students know the nucleus is the repository for genetic information in plant and
animal cells.
d. Students know that mitochondria liberate energy for the work that cells do and
that chloroplasts capture sunlight energy for photosynthesis.
e. Students know cells divide to increase their numbers through a process of
mitosis, which results in two daughter cells with identical sets of chromosomes.
These standards cover what we have been learning about cells, the differences
between animal and plant cells, how they divide, and how they reproduce, and why
they are important. This activity will test your knowledge, and provide a helpful study
guide to your test on cells.

Your mission with this assignment:

Cells are everywhere, but we cant see them. Cells are important because they are in
control of keeping life moving. Imagine you are shrunk to a microscopic level, and are
traveling around a cell. Remember, youre a scientist!
What would a cell look like?
Are my cells different from your cells?
Are your cells the same as your dogs?
Do you have the same cells as a tree or flower?
How are cells important? Would we be able to live without them?

Treasure Hunt Questions:

1. Explain the difference between Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells. How are they
similar?
2. Draw/illustrate an animal cell and plant cell.
3. List all the cell organelles and describe what they do.
4. Design a factory based on an animal cell, what would each organelle be and
what would its job description be?
5. What is mitosis? Describe each phase of mitosis.
6. Illustrate each phase of mitosis, make sure each phase is clearly labeled?
7. Explain the importance for why cells divide? Based on your knowledge, what
would happen if cells stopped dividing?
8. What do cells need to do before beginning the phases of mitosis? What is the
end result of mitosis?
9. Where in the cell is all genetic information stored? Is it in the same place for
both plant and animal cells? Explain why.
10. Analyze the differences in cell division between plant cells and animal cells.

The Internet Resources

Search these sites to find clues to help you answer the questions above:
http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/3dcell.htm
http://nature.ca/genome/03/c/10/03c_11_e.cfm
http://www.beyondbooks.com/lif71/4a.asp
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/divide.html
http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX645478027c03150f647502&t=CellDivision
http://www.biology-online.org/11/1_plant_cells_vs_animal_cells.htm
http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model.htm
http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/centriol.htm
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Cell_Rap&video_id=125855

Treasure Hunt Report Directions

1. Visit all of the web sites to research your questions.
2. Make a Microsoft Word Document to list the questions and your answers. Be sure to tell
which web site(s) provided the information you used in each answer.
3. Please write your answers in your own words. Do not cut and paste information.
Provide a reference or citation for any information that you directly quote.