7th grade science is learning about the building blocks of life! In this lab, students were able to construct a cell of their choosing out of modeling clay (and other materials like pipe cleaners, beads, beans and more!). The choices of cells included either an animal cell, a plant cell or a prokaryotic cell. Through this lab, students demonstrated their knowledge on the cell structures and their organelles. In addition, the students answered a few questions relating to the functions of these organelles that make up the cell model. This activity really made the students think about the different levels of organizations within cells and organisms. Also, by building their own models, students gained a whole new understanding as to why and how 3-D models can be so useful for scientific studies. By the end of the lab, students felt much more confident in knowing cell structures and their functions.