PROJECT: Cell Town
You have just been hired by an architectural firm to design a town. However, this town must be similar to
the structure and layout of a cell in order to promote biology to its citizens. Since you are now an expert in
cell organelle structure & function, you will relate each part of your town to a specific function of a cell’s
organelles. You may choose to relate to either a plant cell or an animal cell, but not both. In order to design
your town, follow each of the steps outlined here. GOOD LUCK!
1. Determine the functions of the following cell organelles in a plant or animal cell.
Animal Cell
Plant Cell
Vacuoles
Ribosomes
Ribosomes
Nucleus
Nucleus
Nucleolus
Nucleolus
Nuclear Membrane
Nuclear Membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondria
Golgi Body/Apparatus
Lysosome*
Endoplasmic Reticulum
(Smooth & Rough)
Golgi Body/Apparatus
Cytoplasm
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Chloroplast**
(Smooth & Rough)
Cytoplasm
Centrosome
Centrosome
Central Vacuole**
Cell Membrane
Cell Wall**
Cell Membrane
Amyloplast**
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Remember that some organelles work together for a particular function.
Draw the town buildings, roads, etc. on 8.5 x 11 paper where each item represents a cell organelle
function to a particular function of a building, road, etc. DO NOT DRAW A CELL!
Give your town a name relative to the project (keeping it school appropriate).
Determine the parts of your town that would relate to each organelle listed above.
Label each building and underneath, in parenthesis, write the organelle it represents. For example:
City Hall (Nucleus)
Draw and color the town neatly & to the best of your ability. This is the “map” you will be presenting
to your boss and the community.
At home or school, YOU MUST TYPE a direction sheet (which is the map legend or key) that will
explain how each part of the town relates to its corresponding cell organelle. For example: The
town hall represents the cell nucleus because…
Staple the type written legend/key underneath the map (2nd page).
Each student will individually design and construct his/her own cell town map. You will be graded on the
following aspects with a maximum of 45 points possible:
1. Neatness and quality of the town map following outlined criteria (15 points)
2. Typed explanations of the organelles that represent the portions of your town (10 points)
3. Accuracy of information (20 points)