1. Journey to the center of the cell! Told as in the Wizard of Oz A explanation of the cell organelles. Use your paper to keep up and write down their function(s).

2. Page 1: Once Upon a time… There was a young girl named Samantha. She lived in a little town called Chapel Hill. She lived there with her little dog Auggie. One day there was a big tornado and she and her dog got whisked into the air and transported to a strange new world!

3. Page 2: Where am I? Samantha awoke in a crazy new world and said, “where am I?” She felt that she was stuck in some gooey liquid and saw that her dog was too although Auggie looked very different than before. Then Auggie spoke and she said, “this goo is likely cytoplasm, the liquid gel inside of all eukaryotic cells. It acts as a cushion and support for the organelles!” She continued, “kind of like the packing popcorn in shipping boxes.”

4. Page 3: Who am I? Shocked that her dog spoke, Sam looked and saw that she was made of stacks and green. “You’re one of us,” a mysterious voice said. “You’re a chloroplast! Chloroplasts trap light energy to be used by plant cells.” “Kind of like how solar panels collect the sun energy to be used later.” The voice continued. “Chloroplasts are only found in plant cells, Auggie exclaimed, “so that helps in our mystery!” What happened to me? Cool! I mean “Woof!” Hi there!

5. Page 4: What happened to my Dog!? Samantha was a bit concerned about being turned into a chloroplast, but she was a bit more curious about her dog. Knowing now her dog could talk, she asked her, “Auggie, what the biscuits happened to you?” “I believe I am a Ribosome. I help read DNA and make it into protein for the cell. We’re kind of like the workers of the cell; the cell’s best friend!” Ribosome is my name and Protein is my game!

6. Page 5: Okay, now let’s get out of here! As Sam and Auggie swam through the cytoplasm, they headed past all of these tubes and filaments that kept getting in their way. “What is all of this stuff Auggie?” Sam asked. “This is likely parts of the cytoskeleton that acts to help support the cell. Kind of like the concrete blocks and structural supports.” Auggie replied. It’s like our own skeletons!

7. Page 6: Leaving is not so easy! Samantha and Auggie reached the end of the cell and found a security guard at the cell boundary. “Who are you?” asked Samantha. “I’m the plasma membrane and I act as the bouncer for the cell. I say who goes in and who goes out.” He continued, “Since this is a plant cell, there is also another layer outside of the membrane called the cell wall which acts like a city wall around a city. There are not present in animal cells.” “You two, my friends, are not leaving.” The membrane added. “If we want to leave, we’re going to have to see the wizard or the nucleus of the cell!” Said Auggie. Come on Sam, let’s go see the wizard. I had a feeling that this wasn’t going to be easy.

8. Page 7: A new friend who needs some heart. On the way we bump into an organelle that seemed unhappy. “Hi, I’m a mitochrondrion, I make energy for the cell, kind of like the power plant for a factory.” “Lately I haven’t had the heart to do it anymore and I don’t know what to do!” Auggie added, “I know! Let’s all go see the Nucleus and he’ll tell us what to do!” The three then set off looking for the Nucleus. Let’s keep going! I just need the heart to start making energy again! I wonder who else we will meet?

9. Page 8: A new friend who needs a brain. While traveling with their new friend, they passed by another organelle with obvious issues. “And who are you that is so blue?” Auggie asked. “I’m the Golgi Apparatus, I package proteins from Ribosomes and send them out the rest of the cell, kind of like the post office does for letters in a town.” “What are those weird little things coming off of you?” asked Samantha. “Those are called Vesicles. This is the transport method I move out processed proteins. They are like the letters from the post office. “However, lately I’ve forgotten how to package all these proteins so I haven’t been doing my job and I don’t know what to do!” He exclaimed. Samantha told him, “Well, we’re all off to see the Nucleus to get his guidance, do you want to come?” “Sure!” The Golgi Apparatus exclaimed and happily joined the gang. I need a brain to figure out what to do! How do you do? Cool! Another friend! Oh dear, who else?

10. Page 9: A new friend who needs some courage! As the foursome moved towards the nucleus, they encountered a dangerous foe! “Who are you?” Auggie timidly asked. “I’m the … uh, the Lysosome.” It replied fearfully. “Oh, he’s not scary, just scared!” exclaimed Sam. “I used to be scary,” said the Lysosome. “I’m filled with digestive enzymes and my job is to digest and eat old cell parts and microbes that enter the cell. I’m kind of like the garbage disposal of the cell. Everyone fears me, but lately I haven’t had the courage to go out and eat anything!” “Well,” Auggie started and then was cut off by Samantha. “Blah, blah, you wanna see the Nucleus and try to solve your problem?” Sam interjected. “Sure!” the Lysosome replied and off they went. I need the courage to do my job again! We’re going to see the nucleus! I bet he can help us! Alright, it’s getting crowded here, let’s go!

11. Page 10: Follow the Yellow Brick ER As our heroes went further to the nucleus, they found a road that led straight to it! “What is this strange place?” asked Sam. Just then, Auggie perked up, starting barking and ran straight to it. “Oh, I get it,” said the mitochrondrion. “This is the Endoplasmic Reticulum or ER. It is the site of all chemical reactions. It is kind of like the assembly line for the cell. The Smooth ER doesn’t have any ribosomes, but the Rough ER contains most of the Ribosomes where they make protein. Maybe that’s what Auggie went to go see, the other Ribosomes.” “WAIT! Auggie, come back!” Shouted Sam. It was too late, Auggie had ran ahead on the ER right to the exterior of the Nucleus. Follow that dog!

12. Page 11: Get Auggie Back! The group chased after Auggie up until they reached the nuclear membrane where Auggie (because she is a small ribosome) jumped in through one of the small holes. “We have to sneak in, we have to get Auggie back!” Sam cried. “The Nuclear membrane is just a membrane that separates the DNA from the rest of the cell so it doesn’t get damaged. It is kind of like a plastic holder around a cell phone or plastic shrink wrap! So it won’t be so bad to go through, we’ll just have to push through one at a time!” Said the Lysosome. The group snuck into the nucleus and continued their search for Auggie and the Wizard inside the Nucleus. We can sneak in through one of those nuclear pores!

13. Page 12: Inside the Nucleus… “Auggie, Auggie, come here girl! Where are you?” Called Samantha. “There she is!” said the Golgi Apparatus. “Over there with the Nucleolus!” “What’s a nucleolus?” asked Samantha. “The Nucleolus is the organelle inside the nucleus that makes Ribosomes. It is kind of like the Boss of all the Ribosomes.” Sure enough, Auggie was wagging her tail next to the Nucleolus which was giving her some treats. Treats are so awesome! You are such a bad dog! We were so worried!

14. Page 13: Auggie & the Nucleolus “Auggie, there you are! You had us so worried!” exclaimed Samantha. “Sorry,” Auggie said, “I knew if I found the Nucleous, then the wizard would be close by!” “Wait, so exactly who is the wizard of the cell?” asked Sam. “That would be the DNA of the cell,” the Mitochondria replied. “The DNA is the genetic code that makes all the organelles and enzymes inside the cell. It acts as the brain of the cell, directing all of the cell activities. The DNA lives inside of the Nucleus. All Plant and Animal cells have DNA in their nucleus.” “Even prokaryotic cells have DNA.” added the Lysosome. We’ve got to be getting close to the Wizard! About time! Ugh, I’m not feeling so good… Yeah! Cool!

15. Page 14: Meeting the “Wizard.” Finally, the group with Auggie back, reached the DNA at the center of the Nucleus. Timidly, they approached the DNA wizard and each organelle with the group asked the wizard for what they needed. – The Mitochondria went first and got the heart to make energy again. – The Golgi Apparatus went next and got the brain he needed to package and sort proteins again. – The Lysosome went last and got the courage to hunt down old organelles, bacteria and viruses to digest again. – Lastly, Samantha and Auggie went before the DNA to ask their question about why they were inside the cell. I’ve found my brain to package proteins! I’ve found my heart to make energy! I’ve found my courage to digest things, but I still don’t feel good…

16. Page 15: The Test! “Um, all knowing Wizard, I mean DNA, sir…” Samantha stammered, “could you help us find our way back home?” she pleaded. “DEPENDS,” boomed the DNA. “YOU MUST PASS MY TEST ON CELL ORGANELLES TO SEE IF YOU ARE WORTHY TO GO TO THE VACUOLE AND RETURN TO YOUR NORMAL LIVES!” Wait, how can we find the vacuole?” Samantha asked. The mitochrondrion replied, “The vacuole is like a storage area of the cell for water or food items. It is kind of like a giant storage unit like a trunk or closet. It’s huge in plant cells, you can’t miss it. In animal cells there are more of them, but not as large.” “Okay,” said Auggie. “Let’s ace this test!”

17. Your Turn! Identify the Letters to the Organelles! The group put all their heads together and came up with a list of answers to DNA’s test. Luckily, since Samantha and Auggie went around and made friends with all the organelles, it was an easy job! Help the group by identifying the organelles in your notes! Use your chart to help you identify the unknown organelles!

18. Page 16: Answers to DNA’s Test The group put all their heads together and came up with a List of Answers. Double check with your list in your notes and see how you did! Correct any answers you did not get the first time! A – Nucleus B – DNA C – Nucleolus D – Nuclear Membrane E – Rough ER F – Smooth ER G – Vacuole H – Cytoskeleton I – Chloroplast J – Cell Wall K – Plasma Membrane L – Mitochondrion M – Vesicle N – Golgi Apparatus O – Lysosome P – Cytoplasm Q - Ribosome

19. Page 17: One Last Question!? “BEFORE I CAN LET YOU GO, I WANT TO SEE IF YOU HAVE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF ORGANELLES.” The DNA demanded. “WHICH ORGANELLE IS NOT FOUND IN PLANT CELLS, BUT ONLY IN ANIMAL CELLS THAT HELPS IN CELL DIVISION?”

20. Page 18: The last question… answered! The group was dumbfounded, all of them had spent their entire lives inside of a plant cell and had no idea what was the unique organelle of an animal cell. The Lysosome got so nervous, he vomited on the floor all of the contents in his gut! Then, up popped an undigested bacterium that must have escaped death due to the previous lack of courage from the lysosome. “I know the answer you seek!” cried the bacterium. “It’s a Centriole! Centrioles are only found in animal cells and act as fishing poles to separate the chromosomes in cell division!” Oh, excuse me! Ugh, it was getting stuffy in there! Eww! Hmm.. Hey are you going to eat that?

21. Page 19: Onto the Vacuole and Home! “YES, THAT IS CORRECT.” Stated the DNA. “NOW IF YOU WISH TO GO HOME, FIND THE CENTRAL VACUOLE OF THE CELL AND SAY THE MAGIC WORDS, – “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE CHAPEL HILL!” “What are we waiting for?” exclaimed Samantha. “Come on Auggie, let’s go home!” And with that, the group went to the Vacuole! There’s no place like Chapel Hill, there’s no place like Chapel Hill! Onto the vacuole!

22. Page 20: Home Sweet Home The group rushed to the vacuole and said their tearful goodbyes. Samantha had learned a lot from her organelle friends and she would never forget them. Sam and Auggie entered into the vacuole, said the magic words and then felt like they were in a terrible storm! We sure are going to miss you guys! Thanks Samantha and Auggie! We couldn’t have done it with you!

23. Epilogue: You think funny things when you’ve had a concussion. “Where am I? Who am I? Am I still a chloroplast? Is Auggie a talking Ribosome?” Samantha said with a jolt upright in her bed. “No, no Samantha,” her mother told her. “A tree branch hit you on the head during the storm and we found you when Auggie was barking and licking your face. It was all just a dream.” Her mother left the room and Auggie jumped on her bed and said, “It was all a dream so just go back to sleep.” THE END! I bet she doesn’t suspect a thing!