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Cell City WebQuest
When faced with a dwindling budget and supplies,
I began using more online resources to provide
students with engaging, af fordable activities. WebQuests, online activities that require students to
read, analyze, and synthesize information found on
the web, are one of my favorite ways of facilitating
instruction and student inquir y. In this article, I will
describe how I use a WebQuest called Cell City to
teach students the names and functions of all the
major cell organelles.
City in a cell
Prior to the activity, I save the URL of the WebQuest in
the Favorites folder on each of the computers students
will be using. Each group of four or five students will
need access to at least one computer. As part of the WebQuest, students are asked to construct their own cell
city, so I make sure that storage space is available for
their creations.
To begin, I divide students into groups and ask
them to review the WebQuest online (see summar y
of activity in Figure 1). The WebQuest takes students through a series of worksheets that help them
learn the names and functions of cell organelles.
The worksheets contain internal and external links
for students to follow—no time is wasted aimlessly
surfing the web. Each link (vetted for accuracy and
appropriateness), provides definitions, images of
organelles, and explanations of how the organelles
function. Other links take students to the worksheets
and grading rubrics (Figure 2). After they have completed the worksheets, students begin designing and
building their cell cities.
Why use it?
There are several levels of assessment for this WebQuest. The first level of assessment is a rubric that
can be used as is or amended to fit personal styles
to assess student learning. It is easy to see if the
worksheets are being completed correctly, but what
is more important is being able to determine if students can make the correlations between the function of a cell organelle within a cell and the function
FIGURE 1 Cell City WebQuest
cell city webquest
Purpose(s) or learning goals
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. This WebQuest will help 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 students can build.
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Introduction
How does a cell function like a city? Think about the sights
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.
SCIENCE SCOPE
Task
1.Use this WebQuest site to research the functions of cell
organelles and to complete both the cell questionnaire and
cell diagram.
2.With your group, complete the city structure sheet.
3.In your group, work together to plan and create a rough-draft
blueprint of your cell city.
4.With your group, create a model of your cell city.
5.Each group member will choose a different career and
complete the job associated with that role.
a. Travel Agent: You will create a brochure for your cell city.
b. Newspaper Journalist/ Newscaster: You will write news
articles regarding “Cell City” news.
c. Musician/ Poet: You will compose and perform a song or
compose and recite a poem.
Procedure
1.Research each cell organelle to determine its function. Also,
label the parts of the cell on the diagram. Below you will find
a list of the cell organelles. Click on each organelle, and
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of a cell organelle in their city. This
project is a memorable activity that
promotes long-term retention of the
concepts involved. When I bump into
former students and strike up a conversation, without fail they recall the
function of the organelles they used to
build their cities.
Conclusion
The activity addresses several of the
National Science Education Standards
(Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry;
Content Standard C: Life Science (structure and function in living systems; reproduction and heredity; regulation and
behavior; populations and ecosystems; diversity and adaptations of organisms); Content Standard
E: Science and Technology (abilities of technological design; understandings about science and technology). It
is also a great interdisciplinary approach to teaching that
combines creative writing, art, spelling, language arts,
and mathematics. Cell City is also easy to implement,
and students are quick to adapt to this new learning
you will be taken to a link that will help you find answers for
your cell questionnaire and to label your diagram. Click on
the back arrow on the toolbar to return to this page after
completing your research.
• Nucleus
• Lysosome
• Mitochondria
• Endoplasmic reticulum
• Vacuole
• Cell wall
• Chloroplast
• Cell membrane
• Cytoplasm
• Golgi apparatus
2.In your group, discuss how each organelle corresponds to
an actual city structure. Each group member needs to fill in
their own city-structure sheet.
3.As a group, make a rough-draft blueprint of your cell city. It should
style. I spend time working with students the first couple
of days to help them get on track, but after that I mainly
float from group to group providing encouragement and
redirecting their work when needed.
This project generates a lot of enthusiasm, and students often ask to come to my classroom before school,
at lunch, and after school to work on their cities. Stu-
include labels for all cell organelles and their corresponding
city structure. Together, give your cell city a name.
4.As a group, make a 3-D 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!
5.Each member will choose one of the following careers
and complete the job associated with that role. Click on
any job below for detailed instructions.
• Travel Agent
• Newspaper Journalist/Newscaster
• Musician/Poet
Conclusion
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.
J a n u a r y 20 08
13
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dents enjoy having the opportunity to be creative and
work with their hands. Students also enjoy having their
work displayed in the library so that it can be shared
with the rest of the school.
Clay Rasmussen ([email protected]) is a
doctoral student in the Department of Secondary Education at Utah State University in Logan,
Utah. Amy Resler ([email protected]) is
a science teacher at Westlane Middle School in
Indianapolis. Audra Rasmussen (ARasmussen@
msdwt.k12.in.us) is a science teacher at Northview
Middle School in Indianapolis.
Resources
Cell City WebQuest—www.msdwt.k12.in.us/WebQuests/
RasQuest/Cell_City.html
San Diego State University WebQuest Page—http://
webquest.sdsu.edu
FIGURE 2 Grading rubrics
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
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:
cell city webquest
Job evaluation
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Total points earned:
SCIENCE SCOPE