Get Inside a Cell!
How can illustration show us the relationship between form and function in a cell?
In this 6-8 lesson, students will create a visual representation of an animal cell. They will research and gather information about animal cell organelles to understand their form and function. Students will prepare a presentation of their art and research to the class.
Lesson Content
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Research and gather information.
Describe the form and functions of the organelles in an animal cell.
Create an accurate visual arts representation of an animal cell and its organelles.
Demonstrate understanding of how form and function are related to an organelle.
Present art and research to a group of peers.
Standards Alignment
Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.
Demonstrate persistence in developing skills with various materials, methods, and approaches in creating works of art or design.
Demonstrate willingness to experiment, innovate, and take risks to pursue ideas, forms, and meanings that emerge in the process of artmaking or designing
Analyze similarities and differences associated with preserving and presenting two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and digital artwork.
Compare and contrast how technologies have changed the way artwork is preserved, presented, and experienced.
Develop and apply criteria for evaluating a collection of artwork for presentation.
Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
Compare and contrast a text to an audio, video, or multimedia version of the text, analyzing each medium's portrayal of the subject (e.g., how the delivery of a speech affects the impact of the words).
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.
Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells.
Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways the parts of cells contribute to the function.
Recommended Student Materials
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Teacher Background
Teachers should be familiar with different types of cells and animal cells. In-depth knowledge of animal and plant cells and examples and history of scientific illustration will also be helpful.
Student Prerequisites
Students should have basic knowledge about cells and how they were discovered.
Accessibility Notes
Provide assistive technologies during research and the art-making process. Allow sufficient space for movement around the room.
Engage
Introduce the topic of cells. Inform the class that a cell is a small compartment, such as a honeycomb cell or cubicle cell in an office. Share the handout, , with students. Tell students that the human body has cells. Review the definition with students: Cells: small compartments that hold all of the biological equipment necessary to keep an organism alive and successful on Earth.
Display the to show students an image of an animal cell. Share that cells in the human body are microscopic, which means they can only be seen under a microscope.
Discuss the idea that the cell is a system. Inform and show students that each cell contains smaller parts called organelles. Review the definition with students: Organelle: a structure in a cell that performs a special function. Organelles have specific jobs they do to help cells to do their work in keeping an organism alive.
Present the essential question: How are “form” and “function” related in cells? Review the definitions with students: Form: shape or structure and Function: job or purpose. Provide the analogy of how the form of a hand (fingers and palm) is directly related to its function (picking up or holding things). Elicit other examples of form and function. Tell students that the class will be investigating the form and function of the organelles found in animal cells.
Build
Distribute the Have students research animal cell organelles with the following resources: , , , .
Display the cell images from the so students can analyze the different representations of an animal cell. Explain that scientific illustrations are done to represent an object as accurately as possible. Point out how scale, accuracy, and color are used in these works.
Apply
Have students work independently or collaboratively to create a visual representation of an animal cell.
Option 1: Draw, make a clay model, design a 2-D or 3-D graphic, or use recycled materials to make an animal cell. Remind students to research and sketch their model to ensure an accurate representation is created. They should make sure the scale is correct in relation to the outline of the cell.
Option 2: Assign each group an organelle. Direct students’ attention to the outline of the cell hanging on the wall. Discuss the concept of scale. Draw three sizes of an organelle, only one of which is to scale. Have the students pick the most appropriate version. Explain to students that their organelles should be drawn accurately and to scale and colors should be used to effectively show the form. Consult with the cytoskeleton group to determine how they would like to incorporate their organelle (they may need to attach/draw it in last).
Allow time for students to prepare a presentation about their organelle. Groups should provide definitions in their own words, address the essential question, and discuss the positioning and placement of their organelle in the cell if they chose Option 2.
Option 2: Place organelles on cell outline. Groups will need to work together to make sure the placement of their organelle is correct in relation to other organelles. Suggest to the class that before attaching their organelles, they should lay them out to ensure that all groups agree on organelle position and placement.
Optional: Compare scientific illustrations to other artwork. Teachers can show examples of the scientific illustrations by Beatrix Potter and compare them against the illustrations found in her children’s books.
Reflect
Presentation of organelles. Allow students to discuss their visual artwork and the results of their research with the class. Assess students’ knowledge of the essential question: How are "form" and "function" related in cells?
Discuss with students any organelles that were not included in the activity.
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This guide will assist teachers in enhancing digital instructional practices with 21st-century learners in no time!
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