Cells are complex things. They work on a microscopic level to power our lives and our world. But, how? MICDS seventh graders recently set out to discover how plant and animal cells build and sustain life.
In students’ first science unit they must first understand cell organelles and their individual functions. Like our own hearts, brains, and lungs, cell organelles are specialized parts of the cell that carry out specific functions. Students are taught about a cell’s nucleus which acts as its brain, the cell’s mitochondria which convert oxygen and sugar into energy, and chloroplasts that exist in plant cells where they create energy through photosynthesis. Knowing how cells work is crucial, but not all cells are the same. Major differences exist between skeletal cells, motor neurons, and liver cells. Working with Middle School Science Teachers Melody Gunn and Nolan Clarke, students selected one type of cell to research. Becoming an expert on cell types and their functions, however, required more than research. Students headed to the middle school Makerspace where they turned their knowledge of cells into practical, working cell models.
“At the beginning of seventh grade many of our students are new [to MICDS] and need to understand all of the resources that are available to them” explains Mrs. Gunn. Under the guidance of Blake Whitney, Middle School History Teacher and Makerspace Coordinator, students learned about 3D printing, laser cutting, and other creative ways that they could use the Makerspace to create their cell models. The benefits of using the Makerspace are twofold: students learn how to use modern tools in service of their education, while the model-building experience itself crystallizes the lesson, aiding in mastery of the material. Our students were able to apply the cells organelles concepts they learned in class with the cell model the created. As Mrs. Gunn says, “Teaching the students via practice is the best way! Our students showed great pride in modeling their understanding.”
When complete, students were asked to showcase their models for their classmates. As part of the demonstration students used buttons, wired to the specific organelle components of the cell model, that when pressed would activate a recording of the students voice explaining the function of that part of the cell. From research, to model building, to programming, and the interactive multimedia component of the project, our students and teachers capitalized on the amazing opportunities that the Makerspace provides for MICDS middle schoolers and the ways it bolsters our students’ love of learning.
