Best Edible Model of a Cell Contest
Students build a model of a cell using all edible materials. Students must do an oral presentation of the model.
- Students will learn the structures and functions of the cell.
- Students will apply what they know to the building of a model.
- Students are using critical thinking to come up with something that can be used to resemble the parts of the cell.
- Students are doing an oral presentation of their model explaining the structures and functions of the cell.
Many vocabulary words are used based on the number of structures they put in their cell.
Context for Use
Project done outside of class
Give the students at least 1 week to complete
Students should know the structures and functions before they complete the project
Project can be done with a partner or individually
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
Description and Teaching Materials
2. Assign the project by explaining the grading rubric with the students.
3. Students construct the model of a cell using edible materials.
4. Oral presentation to the class explaining what they used to represent the structure and the function of each structure.
Teaching Notes and Tips
Can be done with various grade and skill levels.
We eat the projects after the presentations.
With my honors biology class I do this project as a contest and my college biology students determine the winners. The winners receive enrichment points.
- The students in my honors and general biology classes will be constructing a model of the cell using all edible materials.
- It will be a contest to see who can prepare the best edible model of a cell in each class.
- The winners of the contest will receive enrichment points.
- Participation in the contest will be in a group of two.
- The criteria used for winning the contest will be the most accurate model in terms of structure.
- Each class will select the best six by voting for who they think has the best edible model of the cell. Final judging of the models will be done by the students in my college biology classes.
- The rules for model preparation are:
- The model must be prepared using all edible materials.
- The model must be three-dimensional, taking the shape of an actual cell.
- The model must be presented to the class, naming the structure and function of each part and what was used to represent that structure. Notes cannot be used during the presentation, nor can any structures on the model be labeled.
- A paper must be turned in with the model explaining the materials used, what the material represents in terms of structure, the functions of those structures, and what was learned by making the model.
- At the end of the contest, all models will be eaten and enjoyed by the class.
- Model - 20 or 12 points
- Oral Presentation - 10 points
- Paper - 20 points
Assessment List for Edible Cell Model
Model, Self, Teacher
- Number of parts - each part is worth 1 point.
- Honors Biology - 20 point maximum _____ _____
- General Biology - 12 point maximum _____ _____
- Oral Presentation - 10 points possible _____ _____
Identified the structures and gave the correct function for each structure.
- Paper - 20 point possible
- List the structure (5 points) _____ _____
- Give the function of each structure (5 points) _____ _____
- Explain the materials used (5 points) _____ _____
- What was learned by doing the project? (5 points) _____ _____
- Total Points _____ _____