1. Cells Webquest
Mr. Cole
8th Grade Science

2. Introduction:
Cells are awesome little things!  Every living thing is made up of one or more cells.  Well, what the heck are they? We know they are small, and there are lots of different kinds.   In fact, you need a microscope just to see them. In your body alone, there are billions of cells!  Cells are able to reproduce, get energy and adapt to their surroundings.  Wow!  Pretty impressive!  Let's take a look at all the organelles that make up the cell!
In this activity, you will:
* Understand the function of the various organelles.
* Differentiate between plant and animal cells.

3. Task:
Each student after completing research will assume a role of an author or travel agent and complete one of the following tasks:
Author - Publish a children's book using Microsoft Word, or Microsoft PowerPoint.  Using the what you have learned about organelles, create a book that covers content on the level of an elementary student. Illustrate with graphics from the Internet or your own drawings.
Travel Agent - You have been hired by the Cellular Tour Company.  The company specializes in selling microadventures:  vacation on a microscopic scale! They need you to design a brochure to showcase a cell tour.  Research and make a list of some interesting things you could see or do if you were able to take a microscopic trip into a cell.  Choose four organelle tour stop destinations and create a brochure to sell a travel package.  Make it interesting. The stops must be informative and exciting, and must accurately reflect the environment.   

4. Process:
1.  Get into your lab groups.  Both members of the group will be researchers: you will research the organelles. 
2.  Each student will research and draw on a note card the following organelles.  Function of the organelle will be on the lined side of the card and the drawing (color) will be on the blank side of the card.  Also, please denote whether the organelle is found in plant, animal or both cell types.
mitochondria                                    ribosome
nucleus  (nucleolus)                          lysosome
chloroplast                                       endoplasmic reticulum
golgi body (apparatus)                     cell wall
vacuole                                             cell membrane
3.   Check out what organelles are found in plant and animal cells. (click on underlined links to research.)

5. Process:
4.  Each researcher will make note cards describing what each organelle does on the lined side and draw a picture on the front of the note card (blank side). Pictures must be colored using colored pencils.
5.  Look at the virtual cell and dissect it to locate your organelles.  Check out each organelle and know what each does. 
6.  Click chart and fill in information about each organelle.
7.  Each researcher will complete the Compare/Contrast Organizer describing what organelles belong only to plant cells, which organelles belong only to animal cells, and which organelles belong to both.
8.  Choose one of the two tasks.

6. Resources:

7. Evaluation:
You will receive a group grade on your Compare/Contrast Organizer (20 points)
You will receive a grade on your Organelle Chart (20 points)
You will receive a grade on the task you choose based on the following rubrics: (60 Points)
Children's Book
Travel Brochure

8. Conclusion:
 I hope you see that cells are amazing little structures!  Each one is like a tiny little factory.  All the organelles work together to make a living thing.  The next time you see a caterpillar or pick a flower, think of all the cells that make up these amazing organisms!
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