Pocantico Hills Fifth-Graders Cell-ebrate Biology, Writing and Math  

Fifth-grader Matthew Dilcer poses with a model of an animal cell that he made out of Legos at the Pocantico Cell-ebration

Pocantico Hills School fifth-graders used vivid paint colors, while others worked with Legos, clay or candy to illustrate the components of an animal cell showcased at the recent Learning Cell-ebration. 

The event also featured math and English/language arts projects. Students created a math word problem about things they hope to have done by the time they are 100 years old, such as visiting countries. They made computer-generated photos of what they might look like as centenarians and turned their narrative non-fiction stories into ebooks with photos. 

“We wanted kids to begin to see the bridges that exist between reading and science,” said Marina Lombardo, the fifth-grade English/language arts teacher. 

Julia Smith-Marrone’s story highlighted the devastating impact that deforestation has had on the red panda, native to Asia.   

Fifth-grader Julia Smith-Marrone’s poses with her father, Nathaniel Smith-Marrone, during the Pocantico Cell-ebration.

Her father, Nathaniel Smith-Marrone, said, “I was very impressed by her language in the story. It made it come alive.”  

Matthew Dilcer placed Lego pieces and flags marking cytoplasm, lysosome, ribosomes and other components inside a circular border made of the blocks. Lego figures stood guard outside the cell. “There are unlimited possibilities of what you could do with them,” he said.

 

Recommended For You

About the Author: Evelyn Mertens