| Introduction | Task | Process | Learning Advice | Evaluation | Conclusion |
Introduction
What comes to mind when you think of going to a pizza parlor? Can
you smell the aroma of cheese, pepperoni, onions, or picture the employees
making pizzas? Can you hear music playing in the background as well as sounds
from people laughing and talking? People come in and go out, taking boxes of
pizzas-to-go. What a flurry of activity!
Cells, the basic units of life, can be compared to a pizza parlor, a factory,
and even an entire city. These cells are busy building and breaking down
macromolecules. They are at work releasing energy from foods, and then using
that energy to make needed cell parts. Together, your cells function to make
your body operate like a well-run business, factory or city.
The Task
You will be working in a team that
will consist of 4 members. Each member will be assigned a role:
You will use the
Internet to research the functions of cell organelles.
All members of the
group will answer the questions assigned for each organelle.
You will share your
research notes with the other members of the group to make sure EVERYONE
understands the information.
Using the role
assigned to you, your group will work together to plan, design, and construct
a 3-D "Cell City" based on your research of the organelles and what their
function is.
The Process
1. Before you can construct a cell city, you must
research each cell organelle to determine its function and how it works with
other cell parts to function correctly.
Below you will find a table with the cell organelles required. Click on each
one, and you will then be taken to a page with the questions to be answered
and the links to help you find those answers.
You should not limit your research to just these links. Also
you can and should use print resources for additional information.
2. Once EVERYONE in your group has researched the
functions of the above organelles, get together and compare notes to make sure
that you all agree on the information.
3. Now you need to decide who will assume which role for
this project. Once you have decided, click on the
manilla folder for more information and requirements.
The Architect/City Planner---This
individual should enjoy drawing. He/She will be drawing the plans of the city
onto a sheet of paper as a reference for the City Builders. This individual
will also decide the placement of organelles in the city.
The City Builders--- These two
individuals will be constructing the actual city. These individuals should
have access to each other afterschool and on weekends ( if needed ) to work on
the city.
The Reporter--- This individual
should enjoy writing. He/She will be responsible for keeping all members on
task, and will be recording the process in newsletter form.
Learning Advice
It is
VITAL that you do not miss class during this project. Illnesses and family
emergencies are the exception. A portion of your grade is on participation,
and if you miss a lot of class time, then your grade will suffer.
Keep
the communication between all group members OPEN!! Trade telephone numbers
or email addresses if
possible to help each other when not in class.
Help
each other along during each phase of the project. If there are any concerns
at all, talk to the instructor, as soon as possible.
Evaluation
A description of how each individual will be evaluated is
included in each of the manilla folders.
Conclusion
Both plant and animal cells are very complex. For some
students, trying to remember which organelles can be found where and what
their specific functions are can be a difficult task. It is my hope that this
WebQuest will help these students understand how a cell is similar to a city
and then apply these concepts to an actual cell. Although this project is very
simple as compared to the actual cell and how it functions, hopefully it will
be a starting point from which they can build upon later on.
adapted from Christine Winstead (tcjwin@forbin.com )
by A.J. Scheetz