Cell Analogies

Angie Karnes
November 2012
Do Now “Think-Pair-Share”
Review Question #1:
A student looks under the microscope
and sees the following image.

a) Is it a plant cell or an animal cell?

b) How do you know? (Evidence)

Review Question #2:

a) Is it eukaryote or prokaryote?

b) How do you know?

 With your partner: A Cell is Like…
What do you notice/see What do you think it is What questions does it
in the picture? trying to show you? raise?
As a Class: Notes on Cell Analogies

SLIDE 1:
Why is a cell like a factory?
 The job of a factory is to make a product (i.e.

a bicycle, a cellphone, etc.)

 The job of a cell is to make proteins (i.e.

hemoglobin, melanin, insulin, etc.)

Slide 2:
 The cell wall is like the security gates
because….

◦ It surrounds the factory and protects it just as a cell

wall surrounds a plant cell and maintains structure.
Slide 3:
 The cell membrane is like the door
because….

◦ It allows materials to enter and leave the factory

Slide 4
 The nucleus is like the CEO/boss because….

◦ It controls the factory and tells it what to do

Slide 5:
 The cytoplasm is like the factory floor
because….

◦ It fills up the factory and connects each location to

another
Slide 6:
 The Endoplasmic reticulum is like the
assembly line because…

◦ It moves the product (proteins) around

Slide 7:
 The Ribosomes is like the factory workers
because…

◦ They make the products (just like they make the

protein)
Slide 8:
 The Vacuole is like the Kitchen because…

◦ It stores food/water for the workers

Slide 9:
 The lysosomes are like the custodial staff
because…

◦ They clean up the factory’s waste materials,

disinfect, etc.
Slide 10:
 The mitochondria is like the generator
because…

◦ It provides energy for the factory’s machines

Exhibition Project
 Your goal: To create your own cell analogy.

Part A. Cell Analogy Brainstorm Activity

Directions: Decide what you want to compare a cell
to. For example, remember how we compared the
cell to a factory? What other analogy can you come
up with?
A cell is like a

__________________________________________________.
 Complete a chart for your
analogy
Is/Are Like Because…
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Cell membrane/ cell
wall
Vacuole
Lysosomes
Ribosomes
Mitochondria
Chloroplast
Etc. etc. etc.
Part B. Create your Visual
Create a visual representation of your analogy. Use the large paper for
this.

Your visual MUST include the following FOUR components:

 Title “A cell is like ______________”
 Your name
 Each picture/organelle labeled clearly
 A brief description of why its an analogy.

Example:
 “The Gatorade is like the mitochondria because it provides energy to
the players”
Part C. Your Written Component
Write a 1-2 page response to the following 4-5 questions:
1. What are cells?
2. What kinds of cells exist?
3. What are organelles? (Provide a few examples and explain their function)
4. How do plant cells differ from animal cells?
5. What analogy did you select for this project, and why?

***Note: If you need to look information up on the internet,

remember to PARAPHRASE (put it in your OWN words. Students
who copy off of the internet will automatically receive a zero on
the written component.