Cell Model-Making Lab (15 minutes)

Problem: An amoeba is a single-celled organism. Like most cells amoebas are

microscopic. Why cant amoebas grow as large as elephants? If an amoeba grew to
the size of a quarter, the amoeba would starve to death. To understand how this
can be true, you will build a model of a cell to see for yourself. For this activity you
will be working in pairs.

Materials:

4 paper cubes
Sand
Scale
Data table sheet
Pencil

Directions:

Gather all of your supplies and make certain you have four pre-assembled
cubes. The first cube is one unit by one unit; the next sizes have two, three,
and four units. These paper models represent the cell membrane, the part of
a cells exterior through which food and wastes pass. The sand represents the
cytoplasm in the cell. (1 minute)
Carefully fill each model with sand until the sand is level with the top edge of
the model. Find the mass of the filled models by using a scale. Weigh each
cube individually to find each mass of each cube. (4 minutes)
Record your calculations in the data table A which has been provided.
Calculations for the smallest cell have been done for you. (2 minutes)

Analyze results:
Complete table B at the bottom of your sheet. Use the data from table A to find
the ratios for each of your cell models. (2 minutes)

Draw Conclusions: (4 minutes)

1. As a cell grows larger, does the ratio of total surface area to volume increase,
decrease, or stay the same?
2. As a cell grows larger, does the total surface area-to-mass ratio increase,
decrease, or stay the same?
3. Which is better able to supply food to all the cytoplasm of the cell: the cell
membrane of a small cell or the cell membrane of a large cell? Explain your
answer.

4. In the experiment, which is better able to feed all of the cytoplasm of the cell:
the cell membrane of a cell that has high mass or the cell membrane of a cell

that has low mass? You may explain your answer in a verbal presentation to
the class.

Mini Discussion
We have been learning about cells and the cell theory this week. Robert Hooke was
the first person to describe cells. In 1665 he built a microscope to look at tiny
objects. One day he looked at cork which looked like it was made of little boxes so
he named the boxes cells, which means little rooms in Latin.

Since we know that we need a microscope to be able to see the basic unit of all
living things, why do you think that is? Why do cells always remain small? Could a
cell grow to the size of a quarter? Could it grow to the size of a car? Or an
elephant? Discuss with your partner possible reasons that might keep cells so
small. You have 3 minutes to discuss the results and come up with a
possible explanation. When finished, write your explanation in the space
provided below.

How could you test this hypothesis?

Length of
side

1
2
3
4

Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit

Area of one
side A=S x
S

1 unit

Total
surface area
of cube cell
TA = S x S x
6
6 unit

Volume of
cube cell
V= S x S x S

1 unit

Mass of
filled
cube cell
in grams

Data Table for Measurements --A

Length of
side
1 Unit
2 Unit
3 Unit
4 Unit

Ratio of
Ratio of
total
total
surface area surface area
to volume
to mass

Data Table for Ratios-B