Plant Cell Puzzle

This is a set of models for a 3D printable plant cell puzzle. You can have fun printing all the different pieces in different colors. I did this from filament samples I got from different companies.

Students can see how the different organelles fit into the cell. This is a eukaryotes plant cell, but you can also model animal cells and prokaryotic by adding or removing pieces.

If you would like a lesson plan, please go to https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TinkerCAD-Plant-Cell-Puzzle-4368818 to purchase it.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

LulzBot

Printer: 

Mini 2

Rafts:

No

Supports: 

No

Resolution:

0.2-0.3

Infill: 

no

Filament:

 multiple or white PLA. This is a great way to use those spools with a little filament left, or print with the filament samples you may get with other filament orders. 
 

Notes: 

you can print all in white and color with a sharpie marker or dry erase maker. If you print in nylon you can use fabric dye. You can also print the separate pieces. I got a bag of color filament samples for 3d pens, and ran them through a batch at a time to print in multiple colors.

Post-Printing

Use Emory board or sanding block to sand off any rough edges.

How I Designed This

This is a TinkerCAD hack. You can also challenge your students to make their own model. You can also use the opportunity to explain what a scientific model is, and how biologist got to the current plant cell model. If you have your students explore the cells under a optic microscope, they likely will not see many of these parts.

Category: Biology, STEM, STEAM, Science