Jello Cells!

Like always I start something and than I forget about it or just don't have the time. Well I plan to change all that. Since I last posted I have moved to a small Christian school and I now teach 6th grade science and history. (Woohoo! I finally get to teach my major!). I thought I would share an activity that my 6th graders loved last year. When I ask them at the end of the year what was their favorite science activity this was in their top 2.

Some prep is needed.
1st: make up jello in sheet pans. I used red jello. I poured mine a ½ inch thick and each group of two had a 2 by 4 inch square.
2nd: Make toothpicks with masking tape flags with all the needed parts. Mitochondria, nucleus, vacuole, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, cell wall or membrane (depending on if it is a plant or animal cell) and any other parts you want your students to know. Or have your TA do this if you are lucky like me to get one.
3rd: Have parents donate different candies to represent different parts.
I used gobbstoppers, chewy sweet tarts, airhead extremes,  swedish fish and gummy bears

In class:
4th: Hand out all the toothpicks and have students label what each part does on the masking tape. Check over these before the project begins.
5th: Have students wash hands. Hand out candy and jello to each group and monitor as needed. With my lower level groups I tell them what each candy represents but with my high level I make them figure it out.
6th:Check over and take pictures and let the kids eat up. I always have extra candy to allow them to eat something their classmate hasn't touched.