Building a Cell Cupcake!

Now that we have learned so much about the parts of a cell, lets put
that knowledge to use by building a cell!
Important Reminders:
Follow all directions as they are given.
Use hand sanitizer before beginning the activity.
Do not touch any materials until given permission.
DO NOT EAT ANY MATERIALS UNTIL GIVEN PERMISSION.
*Make sure you follow all directions so that you can participate in this
activity!*
Objective: Students will use previous knowledge of cell parts and their functions
to build an animal cell cupcake using edible materials that represent
the cell parts.

Background Information:
As we learned in class, all living things are composed of cells. Cells are the
basic unit of structure and function in living things. A cell is composed of several
small parts, known as organelles. The parts of a cell all serve a purpose, similar
to how the parts of our bodies perform specific functions. These functions are
necessary for everyday activities like eating and breathing.

Materials: cupcakes, icing, chocolate covered peanuts, M&Ms, gummy bears,

sprinkles, licorice, jelly beans, smarties, napkins, paper bowls, snack bags,
plastic spoons, Cells and Heredity textbook, and hand sanitizer.

Procedures:
1. Use hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
2. Do not touch any materials. Wait for instruction.
3. Place a cupcake on a napkin.
4. To build the cell, follow the directions given to you by the instructor.
5. DO NOT EAT THE CELL..yet.
6. Fill in the data table and complete the analysis questions.
7. Wait for instruction to eat your cell!

Analysis: Use your knowledge, class

Who knew studying

cells could be so
delicious?!

notes, and pages 16-19 in your textbook to

answer the following questions. Remember
to restate the question and write in
complete sentences.
Data: Fill in the following table with the correct function of each cell structure and
organelle.

Table 1:
Organelle/
Structure

Food Item

Cell Membrane

Wrapper

Cytoplasm

Icing

Nucleus

Chocolate covered
peanut

Mitochondria

M&Ms

Golgi Apparatus

Gummy bear

Ribosomes

Sprinkles

Endoplasmic
Reticulum

Licorice

Vacuole

Jelly bean

Lysosomes

Smarties

Function

Analysis: Use your knowledge, class

Who knew studying

cells could be so
delicious?!

notes, and pages 16-19 in your textbook to

answer the following questions. Remember
to restate the question and write in
complete sentences.

1. Why does the icing represent the cytoplasm? How are the two similar?
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2. What is the difference between a cell wall and a cell membrane?
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3. How are the functions of the endoplasmic reticulum and the golgi apparatus
related?
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4. What are the three statements of the cell theory?

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Analysis: Use your knowledge, class

Who knew studying

cells could be so
delicious?!

notes, and pages 16-19 in your textbook to

answer the following questions. Remember
to restate the question and write in
complete sentences.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________
5. Why did the cupcake represent an animal cell and not a plant cell?
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