Author: Nevius, Heather

5th Grade STEM AC Science Cell Project

Situation: The Center for the Disease Control (CDC) is the leading research center of cells in the world. Unfortunately the lab was damaged last week in our severe storms. The slides of cells were damaged and labels were blown all over the lab. It is your job to help examine the slides in order to re-label them with the correct descriptions, so that the lab can continue its vital research to help cure diseases. The CDC has also hired your group to redesign their lab better so in the future it will not be damaged during the next severe storms.
Materials Needed:
-8 miniature eyeballs
-8 connecting cubes
-200 popsicle sticks
-100 toothpicks
-70 q tips
-25 cotton balls
-assortment of adhesives
-2 pieces of rectangular card stock
-1 posterboard
-1 item from home (approved by teacher)
- Markers/sharpie
Tasks:
-Create a visual display to help the scientists at the CDC identify their cells by matching the images, with the labels, with the descriptions. While creating the display, you must include the growth of each cell over a two week period.
-Build a model to help protect the valuable cells. You only have the materials listed above. The cells “eyeballs” must freely rest on top of the connecting cubes. The group’s design and model will be tested to see how well it can withstand from wind.
-Create a proposal to the CDC about what would be the most effective lab design based on durability, classification of cells, and the organization of cells.

Investigate: What is the problem you’re facing? At the beginning, it’s the essential question. In the middle of the project, it’s more specific problems that arise during development.

Cell Portion:
Lab Portion:

Plan: How will you address current problems and needs, as well as past problems and demands that have not yet been addressed? How do personal schedules and other calendar events affect the project timeline and the tasks that need to get done? What resources and research do you need?
Project Due Date: September 26th (You must have your cell visual display, your blueprint saved onto your flash drive and printed, and your lab

Cell Portion:
Lab Portion:

Design: you identified the problems, now draft out possible solutions and get feedback on how they will be addressed. Design is not just graphic, but also a system of steps to fix or create. It’s the “how” something planned will specifically get done.

Cell Visual Diagram:
Quick Sketch of lab redesign:

Create: it’s time to make! You’ve got a plan, a design and a timeline, so get going on making what you need to make. Keep in mind, it won’t always work out perfectly, but you can reflect on that next meeting.

Evaluate: What went right, and what went wrong? Who did their work and who did not? If there is still time left in the project, the answers to these questions will lead to the next “iteration” or cycle of this Design Process, so go back to #1. If this project is now over, this evaluation will hopefully help you on your next project.