How to Create Cell Models

A simple plant or animal cell model can be created with polymer clay.

There are two different types of cells: animal cells and plant cells. While animal cells are encased in a cell membrane that is malleable and flexible, plant cells have a sturdy cell wall that maintains its shape without changing. If you are teaching students about the differences in these two cells, it can be helpful to provide them with a hands-on activity that will demonstrate the differences firsthand, such as making models of the animal and plant cells.

Things You'll Need

• Polymer clay
• Styrofoam cube
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Select the bases for the cells. For an animal cell, press a quarter-sized ball of clay into a flat disc. For a plant cell, place a styrofoam cube on a table.

2. Paint the plant cell cube with green acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry completely.

3. Flatten two nickle-sized balls of clay into discs, and place one onto each cell. These will be the nuclei.

4. Flatten two pea-sized balls of clay into discs, and place one onto each nucleus. These will be the nucleoli.

5. Add small pieces of green clay onto the plant cell. These will be the chlorophyll.

6. Flatten two pea-sized pieces of clay into discs, and place them onto each cell. These will be the vacuoles.

7. Roll out two ropes of clay, and curl each one into a spiral. Add one spiral to each cell. These will be the golgi bodies.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Animal Cell Anatomy
• Enchanted Learning: Plant Cell Anatomy