BioSigns Animal Cell

This particular cell model is useful in demonstrating the three-dimensional nature of cells. Many students fail to recognize that organelles are encased in cytoplasm when they look at diagrams and cross sectional models of cells. My students loved sitting in small groups to handle cell models together. This model separates, so students can lift one half away from the other, and exam the organelles individually. The material from which the model is made has the slightest amount of "give" to it, so students were better able to understand what the cytoplasm is, and to understand that the organelles are surrounded. While the pieces are very small and easily lost, my students were fascinated enough by the model to take extra care with the pieces. The informational card that comes with the model is clear and easy to understand, and the case is great for storage. And the model is DURABLE! Even the most careful person occasionally makes a mistake, and when an item is passed over forty times in one day, it is likely to be dropped. Since this one is not made from a hard, brittle plastic, it stands up well to all of the handling. The only downside is that those tiny little pieces don't snap into place, or lock into their spots in any way. Similarly, the two halves don't quite nest together. I purchased the animal cell, plant cell, and bacterium from this product line, as well as the very large "4D" plant and animal cells sold by a different company. While both a very useful, I feel that my students got more out of this series than the 4D set. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much the kids enjoyed it!

Bought for my students along with the plant cell model. My students love manipulatives. The parts are small and we have lost a couple of them already, but it was worth it to help kids learn the difference between animal cells and plant cells.

I received this model today and was very excited! The model is not as detailed as I would like, and on closer inspection the details that are there are not very high quality. It does not store well as it does not fit quite snugly. The stand isn't steady and therefore not great.However, the model is an inexpensive way to educate on cell structure. I just wish it was higher quality.

Overall, good product. Very visual illustration of the cell structure. A bit pricey, but was very useful for my daughter's biology class.

My students loved the model... it is very nice! I helps me to illustrate my class and it is not too expensive, which is great!

So first of all please keep in mind this is very small, smaller then the palm of my hand. Now for 11 dollars I suppose that it a decent value for this well formed hunk of plastic.Only the Rough ER, neuculous, Golgi and 4 tini mitochondria are removable, the rest of the parts are permanently attached to the model, and are honestly difficult to distinguish. The little mitochondria look more like magic beans.I'm giving it four stars because the price is so inexpensive, but really as teaching tool its more an object just to hold attention and "hey kids want to put this microscopic magic bea- er mitochondria in this model?"It has a little card that explains the cell parts I mentioned, but really nothing else...which is odd.So anyway I'm not sure if I'm satisfied or just feel like for the price I had low expectations?

Low quality design, clumsy, does not look like the picture. It’s also relatively expensive for what it is

It's a little cheesy in design. There are much better animal cell model kits. It's good for the price, but not that instructive.