Studying the Human Body – The Edible Cell
September 1, 2008 by Janne 
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How do you get elementary students to remember such things as “smooth endoplasmic reticulum”? – With candy of course! I can guarantee that even the youngest of my students remember the parts of their cells, after EATING them!
While studying cells last week, I searched the internet for any sort of cell-related activities and/or experiments, and found three very similar activities that I knew would make a lasting impression on my children.
After researching and learning the parts and functions of the components of cells, the children had fun comparing the shapes of those components to different types of candies to use in making their cells.
Here were their choices:
Plum = Nucleus
Sprinkles = Ribosomes
Laffy Taffy = Golgi Body
Twizzlers Pull n’ Peel = Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
Fruit Roll-Ups = Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Gobstoppers = Lysosomes
Mike n’ Ikes = Mitochondria
Skittles = Peroxisomes
Sixlets = Central Vacuole
BUSTED!
Gator caught sneaking a taste of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Dinky Tumblina showing off her nucleus.
Adding the mitochondria
The finished cell!
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And that’s a cell. If only bio 103 was that fun!
[Reply]
Okay- so you are a WAY cooler homeschooing mother than I am! I’m so impressed with your cell! I’ll have to bookmark this as a cool project I’ll probably never try but wish I would. Would you like 4 more boys in your homeschool, maybe???
[Reply]
you have the coolest edible cell model ever! love it!
[Reply]
Thanks so much for posting your cell idea. I am in college going to school to teach 0-5, and in my science class we have to present a cell that would be attractive to small children, and yours worked out perfectly!!! Thank you so much!
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