Using materials such tempera paint, yarn, plastic bubble wrapping, and aluminum foil, students can make models of the different organelles. Once the creations have dried, they go inside a ball of playdough. Cutting through the ball reveals the inside of the cell. The teacher puts one group in charge of creating an animal cell, while another creates a plant cell; students later discuss the similarities and differences between them.
The Children's Museum Indianapolis website suggests an edible model of a cell as a learning tool. Cookie dough acts as the cell membrane, which keeps all the organelles inside the cell. Different toppings, such as string licorice, peanuts and chocolate candies, represent the organelles. In an oral presentation, students talk about organelles' function and importance within the structure of the cell, before placing the toppings on the cookie dough and baking the cells. This idea also works with pizza, pudding and flavored gelatin.
Resealable plastic bags serve as a quick and simple 3-D model of a cell, once filled with light corn syrup and objects such as buttons, pasta, pipe cleaners or beads. One at a time, students hold up their model, using it to explain the structure of their specific cell and the functions of each organelle.
In addition to 3-D cells made from just about any material, other activities can teach sixth-grade students about cell functions -- from cell mobiles to interactive computer models. Students can even play the roles of the different organelles themselves, effectively creating a human cell made out of humans.