Illustrating Science Vocabulary: Plant Cell Organelles

Understanding science vocabulary can be very challenging for students. When they create simple drawings for new terms, students get familiar with the vocabulary in an enjoyable, low-stress way. I found that this activity works especially well when teaching about chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and leucoplasts, all organelles found in plant cells. Students are engaged when illustrating the words and have the chance to express their individual style. The result is an informative and colorful display of your students’ work in the classroom.

Before starting the activity, you can show students photos of the three types of plastids- chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and leucoplasts, discussing their function and where they are likely to be found in plants. 

Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0

<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Chloroplasts are where photosynthesis happens, and they are found in the leaves and other parts of the plant that are green. Chromoplasts give flowers and fruits their color. Students are interested to know that leucoplasts help provide some of their favorite foods as storage places for starch, fat, and protein. They are commonly found in potatoes and seeds, including beans and corn kernels. Thank leucoplasts for french fries, chips, and burritos!

Brainstorm with students how they might illustrate the words chloroplast, chromoplast, and leucoplast, writing ideas on the board for reference. 

Chloroplasts - green leaves, sunshine, water, and CO2

Chromoplasts - flowers, fruits

Leucoplasts - potatoes, french fries, beans, corn, burritos

Groups of three students get three strips of paper made by cutting 8 ½” by 11” printer paper into three parts lengthwise. 

Each student illustrates one of the three plastids so that all three plastids are completed by the group. I enjoy seeing the different styles students use in their work.

As students finish their work, they can help arrange the illustrations as a display on the wall. I found that putting each type of plastid illustration in a single column helps students more easily use them as a reference.

If you would like to learn about playing simple vocabulary-building games that draw on students' creativity, follow this link:

Low-Prep Games for Teaching Vocabulary

Here are links to other blogposts related to cell biology:

Personality Quiz with Plant Cell Parts

Cell City: Cell Organelles Project

I hope that you enjoyed this blogpost and found it helpful. If you are interested in joining my email list, please follow this link:

                                SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL LIST