Random household items became learning tools for biology students in a recent hands-on classroom project.

Before winter break, students in biology classes were assigned to model prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using any materials they could find at home. The goal of the project was to help students better visualize and understand the structures that make up living organisms.

“The purpose of why we decided to do this type of project is because cells are the basic unit of life, and it’s where most of biology stems from, so when we have students actually making the cell of either prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell we can have them have a better understanding of what each organelle does, where it’s located,” biology teacher Andrea Alejo said.

Before beginning construction on their models, students completed background research to build foundational knowledge about different types of cells and their components.

“We created a flipbook that helped us learn about cells, viruses, and the organelles inside of them, and we then applied that knowledge to the project we’re doing now,” freshman Elizabeth Mullican said.