What are the materials needed to make an animal cell model?

Make an edible animal cell model using Jell-O and a variety of different candies such as M&M'S, gumdrops and gummy worms. A large Ziploc bag is required to set the Jell-O and is used to represent the cell's membrane.

Sometimes a graphic three-dimensional representation helps a student visualize what he or she is studying. There are just a few components required to create an edible model of an animal's cell:

• A gumball is used to represent the cell's centrosome. It is located near the nucleus of the cell.
• The Jell-O represents the cytoplasm, or the jelly-like material surrounding the nucleus. Use a little less water than what is called for in the directions. This helps make the gelatin firmer.
• The Golgi body within a cell resembles a stack of pancakes. Hard ribbon candy can be used for this part of the cell.
• M&M'S can be used for the lysosomes, candy sprinkles for the ribosomes and raisins for the mitochondrion.
• A plum works well to represent the nucleus. The skin is representative of the nuclear membrane and the pit for the nucleolus.
• Sour gummy worms work well for the rough endoplasmic reticulum and smooth gummy worms are good for the smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
• Small Jawbreakers can be used for the vacuoles, which are fluid-filled cavities within a cell.