Great introduction to organelles

In this activity, students take on roles of factory personnel to make peanut butter cups. Unknown to students, their factory roles are correlated to organelles function. Props, such as bro... See More

In this activity, students take on roles of factory personnel to make peanut butter cups. Unknown to students, their factory roles are correlated to organelles function. Props, such as brooms for custodians (lysosomes), can be added to promote meaningful connections to the roles function. Following the role playing activity students are introduced to the cell. The peanut butter cup factory roles will serve as an analogy to cellular organelles. Names of the organelles are matched to the corresponding factory jobs. This activity is a fantastic way to introduce organelles and stress the function of the organelles.

Great introduction to organelles

In this activity, students take on roles of factory personnel to make peanut butter cups. Unknown to students, their factory roles are correlated to organelles function. Props, such as bro... See More

In this activity, students take on roles of factory personnel to make peanut butter cups. Unknown to students, their factory roles are correlated to organelles function. Props, such as brooms for custodians (lysosomes), can be added to add meaningful connections to the roles function. Following the role playing activity students are introduced to the cell. The peanut butter cup factory roles will serve as an analogy to cellular organelles. Names of the organelles are matched to the corresponding factory jobs. This activity is a fantastic way to introduce organelles and stress the function of the organelles.

A Real Winner

I think this is a great article. Having students first create a manufacturing company (of peanut butter cups) and identify all the departments, personnel and jobs needed provides a solid fo... See More

I think this is a great article. Having students first create a manufacturing company (of peanut butter cups) and identify all the departments, personnel and jobs needed provides a solid foundation for the subsequent comparison with the cell and cellular organelles’ functions. Initially, after the company is set up, students role-play the various jobs that need to be done to make peanut butter cups. After this student engagement, students are introduced to the animal cell and the organelles are matched with the factory jobs. By actually experiencing working in this factory, students have the basis to understand the workings of the cell and its organelles. If I were still teaching middle school, it would definitely be in my lesson plans.

Integrate Drama & Science for an Unforgettable LP

Having students dramatize cellular functions in role as candy factory workers is a lesson I would definitely use. They are likely to be fully engaged in the activity, since so much movement... See More

Having students dramatize cellular functions in role as candy factory workers is a lesson I would definitely use. They are likely to be fully engaged in the activity, since so much movement is involved. The factory workers will be equipped with props to remind them of their roles and to make the simulation more fun. Students gain a deeper understanding of cellular functions through an opportunity to physically move around within the “cell” or “factory”. By having them write about thier experience and link the factory worker roles to specific organelles, they are unlikely to forget what they have learned.

Active and engaging while building understanding

This activity gives students an opportunity to actively participate in modeling cell structure and function though an analogous process of creating peanut butter cups in a factory. This act... See More

This activity gives students an opportunity to actively participate in modeling cell structure and function though an analogous process of creating peanut butter cups in a factory. This activity is appropriate for students’ first experiences (upper elementary/middle school) with cells or as a review for high school students. It provides an opportunity to dig into very abstract subject matter content in a more concrete, active fashion. the activity does not, however, provide opportunities to understand how scientists work or to conduct investigations. Students don’t ask questions, manipulate variables, use evidence, or discuss how scientists might know what’s inside a cell. However, the article does give few extension ideas that could be used for these purposes. I also had initial misgivings about using food, especially candy in the classroom--too many unhealthy kids and too many kids without good food in the world. However, this activity actually used Legos to build the mock