Clay Cell Components

• 1). Mix 1 cup cornstarch, 1 1/4 cups water and 2 cups baking soda in a pot and stir it over medium heat for about five minutes or until it thickens (think mashed potatoes).
  
  
• 2). Pour the mixture onto a plate and allow it to cool.
  
  
• 3). Knead the mixture until it is smooth. Separate the mixture into smaller portions, add a couple drops of food coloring to each portion and knead each portion until the color is evenly dispersed.
  
  
• 4). Create the cell components (ribosomes, mitochondria, the nucleus, golgi apparatus, centrioles, endoplastic reticuli and vacuoles) by shaping the clay with your fingers. Use a different color of clay for each component. For example, use a brown ball of clay for the nucleus and small, thin yellow strips of clay for the ribosomes. It helps to have a diagram of your cell nearby when shaping the cell components.
  
  
• 5). Set the clay components on a sheet of waxed paper and allow them to dry overnight. Seal them with a clear spray-on sealant if desired.
  
  

Foam Cell Body

• 1). Mix 2 tsp. powdered Borax and 1/3 cup water until the Borax is completely dissolved. Add additional water 1 tsp. at a time if necessary to dissolve the powder.
  
  
• 2). Mix 1 cup white glue and 1/3 cup water together in a separate bowl until blended. Add coloring to the mixture if desired. Light colors work best for cell models.
  
  
• 3). Place 4 to 6 cups of polystrene beads (the kind used for bean bags or stuffed animals) in a large, zippered plastic bag. Add the Borax mixture and the white glue mixture to the bag and knead the mixture until the ingredients are completely blended. Add additional beads if the mixture appears soupy or watery.
  
  
• 4). Refrigerate the bag for about 20 minutes and knead it a second time, creating a beaded foam, similar to Styrofoam but able to be shaped as you see fit.
  
  
• 5). Pour the foam mixture into a rectangular plastic container (for a plant cell), or pour it onto a piece of waxed paper (for an animal cell).
  
  

Assembling the Cell

• 1). Press the dried clay cell components into the foam mixture, submerging each about halfway, according to a diagram of the cell.
  
  
• 2). Allow the foam to dry overnight.
  
  
• 3). Remove the foam and clay cell from the plastic container or waxed paper and set it on a piece of poster board or cardboard for display.
  
  
• 4). Create a shape and color key for your cell model by listing each component of the cell and its color. For example, if you used brown for the nucleus and yellow for the ribosomes, list "Nucleus -- Brown" and "Ribosomes -- Yellow" on your key. Include each component.