How does a cell function like a city?

 Think about the sites and sounds of a city.   You see people and cars moving about,
buildings, restaurants, and lights everywhere.  What a flurry of activity!

Cells, the basic units of life, can be compared to a city.  Cells are building and breaking down material.  Cells release
energy from foods, and then use that energy to make needed cell parts.  Cells function to make your body operate like a
well run city.  

        

1. Research each cell organelle to determine its function.  Write the function down in the space provided below.
Below you will find a list of the cell organelles and city analogies. Remember; be creative when making your cell city.
Your city can be modern, futuristic, historic, or fantasy, as long as your analogies are similar to those provided below. BE
CREATIVE! THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX! Customize the “City Analogies” to fit your city!

City Analogies for a basic modern city

Organelle Functions (make adjustments for your city)
Cell Organelles
Cell Membrane River surrounding the city
Cell Wall City Wall or Border of Protection
Remember: Includes cytosol plus
everything in the cell except the nucleus
Cytoplasm
so it’s technically already apart of your
drawing!
Endoplasmic Reticulum Highway  or road system
Ribosomes Lumber or brick yard/ factory
Golgi Bodies (Golgi Apparatus) Post Office or UPS
Chloroplasts Solar Energy Plants
Nuclear Membrane City Hall Fence with security guard
Mitochondria Energy Plants
City Hall (or some other central controlling
Nucleus
body of your city)
DNA Original Blueprints of the city
RNA Copies of Blueprints
Nucleolus Copy Machine
Lysosomes Waste Disposal/ Recyclers
Warehouses, water towers or garbage
Vacuole
dumps
Protoplasm/ Cytosol Air and Lawns
Chromosomes Rolled up blueprints
Proteins Lumber or bricks

2.  Make a rough draft blueprint of your cell city.   It should include labels for all cell organelles and their
corresponding city structure.  Structures should be labeled Cell Organelle / Analogy Name. Example: Nucleus / City Hall.
Give your cell city a name at the top center of your drawing.
3.   Make a poster model of your cell city with materials from home.   Be sure to label all cell
organelles and corresponding city structures.  Your model should look like your blueprint but neater and in color.  All work
that has been finalized and approved MUST be laminated! Please make sure the proper heading including your name
date and class period are on the back top right corners of all of your work BEFORE it is laminated!

4.  Chose one of the following careers and complete the job associated with that role.
Remember, all work that has been finalized and approved MUST be laminated!

    Travel Agent

    Newspaper Journalist/ Newscaster
    Musician/ Poet

Career Job Descriptions

Travel Agent

Brochure Instructions:

1. Please use one sheet of unlined paper.

2.  Fold your paper into thirds.
3.  Include your "Cell City" name.
4.  Describe the attractions of your city.  These would be the organelles that people would come to visit.
     You will need to describe the structure and function of at least 3 organelles.
5.  Include colorful hand-drawn illustrations of the attractions of your city.
6.  Present highlights to the class.

Newspaper Journalist / Newscaster

Newspaper article / Newscast story:

1. Please neatly print or type your article(s). NO LINED PAPER PLEASE!!!

2.  Name your newspaper or TV station.
3.  Create stories about what is happening in "Cell City".  Be creative. Try an eye-catching headline or idea. 
 Emergency in an organelle
 Award winning organelle for services 
 Sports event or hall of fame

4.  You must describe the structure and function of at least 3 organelles in your article(s) or news story.
5.  Read story to class or perform a newscast for bonus!

Musician/Poet

Song Instructions:

1. Neatly print or type the lyrics to your "Cell City" song using a familiar tune. NO LINED PAPER PLEASE!!!
2.  You must describe the structure and function of at least 3 organelles in your song.  
3.  Perform your song for the class for bonus! 

Poem Instructions:

1. Neatly print or type the words to your "Cell City" poem. NO LINED PAPER PLEASE!!!
2.  You must describe the structure and function of at least 3 organelles in your poem.
3.   Illustrate your poem.
4.   Recite your poem for the class for bonus!
Cell City Evaluation

0 points 3 points 5 points

organelles represented none most all
construction of city falling apart one month warranty lifetime guarantee
no organelles labeled none most all
city structures identified none most all
accuracy of organelle structure none most all
creativity boring meets basic requirements one-of-a-kind
neatness sloppy meets basic requirements outstanding
city named none general unique
rough draft (drawing) none most structures identified exact blueprint
Presentation of cell city none adequate outstanding
Total points earned:

Job Evaluation

0 points 5 points 10 points

organelles represented none 1-2 3
accuracy of organelle information wrong mostly correct completely accurate
creativity boring meets basic requirements one-of-a kind
presentation none adequate outstanding
followed directions not at all mostly exactly
Total points earned:

Although this activity seems simple, cells are very complex.  You will be able to better understand the interrelationship of
the cell's organelles through this comparison to a city.  This introduction to cells will prepare you for more detailed
instruction in the future.