Are you looking for a creative way to teach cell biology that captures your students’ attention and makes learning fun? Check out “A Journey Through the Cell,” a free resource that transforms a standard biology topic into an engaging, story-driven adventure.
You might already be familiar with another worksheet on the cell, called Cell City Students read about a factory that produces widgets and determine which parts of the factory are like the cell.
A Journey Through the Cell, is a bit more robust in terms of details about the cell. It is a narrative that takes students on a tour of a eukaryotic cell, guided by Ribbi the Ribosome. This story paints a vivid picture of the cell as a bustling city, with each organelle playing a specific role:
The mitochondria as power plants, producing energy.
The plasma membrane as the city gate, regulating traffic in and out.
The nucleus as City Hall, housing the cell’s blueprints.
The Golgi apparatus as the post office, packaging and shipping proteins.
The endoplasmic reticulum as the factory highways.
This resource goes beyond dry textbook descriptions, helping students visualize and connect with the cell as a living, dynamic system. By personifying cell structures and giving them relatable roles, students are more likely to remember the material and appreciate the complexity of cellular life.
What’s Included?
- The full story: A detailed, engaging narrative about a tour through the cell.
- Comprehension questions: Reinforce learning and encourage deeper exploration of the topic.
- Cell Labeling: Image of a typical plant cell for students to label
Teaching abstract concepts like cell biology can be challenging, but using analogies and storytelling creates a mental “hook” for students. They’re not just memorizing terms—they’re imagining a vibrant city, each part playing a role.
The student worksheet is available for free as a Google Doc or PDF file. You can purchase the answer key from