This activity was told to me by Stuart Slocum.

The cell-mobile can be used as the culminating activity to studying all the organelles and their functions.

The class is divided in to groups and each group is assigned either a plant or animal cell. They are given a large box of colored chenille sticks (pipe cleaners). There are all types available, including multi-colored, fluffy and sparkled ones. They proceed in their groups of 2 or 3 to bend, roll and squash the different colored sticks into all of the common organelles found in a typical cell. They then fashion a cell membrane(wall) in a 3D pattern that is somewhere between the size of a soccerball and a basketball. Then, using thread or fishingline, they suspend the nucleus and all of the other organelles that they have fashioned, inside of that cell shell.

The overall exercise gives them a good feel for relative locations and sizes. After they have created the model, the students are given a blank chart which they set up as a key to their cell.

Then they cut strands of each color and style of chenille used. The strands should be about one-half inches long and are glued into boxes which are at the beginning of a row with the headers of "organelle name" and "function". In those blocks, the students neatly print the appropriate information. Upon completion, the mobile, along with its key, can be displayed in the classroom.

Not only do these mobiles show the students' creativity, and make attractive room displays, but they are also observed and discussed by other classes.