Giant-Size Cell Model

crayola supplies

Model Magic®
No-Run School Glue
Pointed Tip Scissors
Washable Markers
Construction Paper

household supplies

recycled cardboard

Why?

Cellular models transform the microscopic unseen into everyday reality. These cells represent plants or animals—not the telephone variety!

Steps

1. Cells come in almost any shape—disks, cubes, boxes, chopsticks, pea pods, globs, blobs, and splats! Find a detailed illustration of a plant or animal cell that interests you. Learn the names and functions of each part. Here is one way to make a 3-D replica of the cell to demonstrate what you learned.
2. Mold a handful of Crayola Model Magic® compound into your cell’s shape. With your fingers, sculpt the cell walls, nucleus (the cell’s control center), and other features. Use different colors of compound so each part shows up well.
3. Add Crayola School Glue to represent the cell’s cytoplasm (matter between the cell membrane and the nuclear envelope). Air-dry your model at least 24 hours.
4. Glue construction paper to recycled cardboard. Glue your model in the center. Cut paper strips. Glue one end to each part and the other end to the base. Write the names of each part on the base.

adaptations

Explore the differences between animal and plant cellular structures.

Create additional models of cell reproduction, featuring the various stages of division.

Assessment: Students can name cell parts, describe their characteristics, and explain their functions.

benefits

Students gather information about cellular structure.

Students reproduce the parts of a cell in a 3-D model.

Students label their work.

grades

Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 12

subjects

Science
Visual Arts

time

30 to 60 minutes
Multiple Sessions

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.