Animal Cell STEM for Kids ~ Unique Christmas Ornaments (Printable)

STEM for kids is the best! Kids learn so very much!

In this post, we will be focusing on animal cell STEM for kids by making unique Christmas ornaments.

They are super cool and can be very festive.

This post includes printable labels for the personalized Christmas ornaments you make, just read on.

Animal Cell STEM for Kids

Let’s delve into these awesome STEM projects for kids!  

There are many kinds of Christmas ornaments make, but how many are as unique as the Animal Cell? None but this one!

You will need:

Acerich 600 Pcs Assorted Colors Pipe Cleaners Set, Including 200Big Party Pack Clear Plastic Plates | 10.25Elmer’s 3D Washable Glitter Glue Pens, 31 Rainbow and GlitterElmer’s Glow-in-the-Dark Liquid Glue, Great For Making Slime, Washable, Assorted

Slime Supplies Glitter Powder Sequins for Slime,Arts Crafts Extra SolventIRIDESCENT OPAL Cello Shred8 oz. BAG ~ 80/20 MIX (7

• a white paper plate for each child
• pipe cleaners in 3 fun colors (2 of each color, 6 total)
• 1 pipe cleaner to make the ornament hanger
• 3 pompoms in 2 colors, 6 total for kids
• tacky glue
• glow-in-the-dark glue
• glitter glue
• glitter
• cellophane shred
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• hole punch
• printable animal cell parts labels (included in this post)

Unique Christmas Ornaments Part 1

Why is STEM important? It teaches kids Science, technology, engineering and Math!

Let’s find out how we use STEM to make this awesome (and super geeky) Christmas tree ornament!

1 Take one paper plate. I prefer white because it makes the parts of the animal cell stand out more.

2 Use the glow-in-the-dark glue to make a swirl on the paper plate.

3 Use one of the glitter glues to make the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum.

They look like dots clumped up together. Make 2 sets of Smooth ER opposite of each other on the plate. See picture #2 below.

4 Choose another color of glitter glue and make your 2 mitochondria. They look like figure 8s filled in.

5 Let the glue dry completely.

Unique Christmas Ornaments Part 2

6 Glue a larger pompom to the center of the plate. This will be the Nucleus.

7 Take one pipe cleaner (I used orange) and cut it in half. Bend it zig zag 4 or 5 times to make 2 Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum. Glue them next to the Smooth ER.

8 Take 1 pipe cleaner in color #2 and cut it in half. I used bright yellow. Bend each half in small zig zags. Glue both in the “L” shape anywhere o the plate. This is the Centriole.

9 Take 1 pipe cleaner in color #3 (I used bright pink) and cut in 4 pieces, going from small to big. Glue them stacked next to each other, like a stack of pancakes. These are the Golgi Bodies.

10 Choose 3 smaller pompoms in the same color and glue them in separate places on the plate. These are the Lysosomes.

11 Choose 3 more smaller pompoms in the same color (but different from the Lysosomes color) and glue them on separate places on the plate. These are the Peroxisomes.

12 Use a glitter glue color and make a circle all around the edge of the plate to mark the Cell Membrane. I used blue. Let it dry completely.

Unique Christmas Ornaments Part 3

Aren’t these ornaments for kids simply awesome?! We aren’t done yet, but almost! The animal cell Christmas printables for kids are included in this post.

13 Print them out and cut them according to the instructions on the printable.

14 Plug in the hot glue gun.

15 Glue the labels on the correct places. You can either follow the instructions in parts 1 and 2 or look at the photo below to see what goes where.

Use the Cell Membrane and the Cell Anatomy labels to go on the edge of the plate. Dry completely.

16 Use the hole punch to make a hole on the edge of the plate.

17 Use a pipe cleaner to put through the hole. Tie both ends together to make a loop. This will be used to hang the ornament when it’s done.

18 Add some glitter and cellophane thread to the plate.

19 Around the same circle of the Cell Membrane on the edge of the plate, make a circle with hot glue and glue the clear place, upside down so the Nucleus pompom isn’t squished.

Make sure that the entire circle is sealed shut so the glitter and the cellophane shred don’t fall out.

20 Dry completely and hang on the Christmas Tree or on a door knob. Enjoy!

Animal Cell Christmas Ornaments Printable

Get these free Christmas printables for kids to make the most fun DIY ornaments with kids!

They will be quite the talking piece and the perfect excuse for kids to learn the parts of the animal cell!

Simply enter your name and email below. Check your inbox and the ODF file will be waiting for you there.

Save it or print it right away!

Homeschool Printables

Thank you for checking out our Animal Cell STEM for Kids ~ Unique Christmas Ornaments (Printable) post!

You might also like some more Science, Anatomy and STEM project ideas:

Anatomy of the Human Body ~ The Skeletal System for Kids Activities & Printables

Human Anatomy Body Systems Printable 3-Part Cards

The Human Body System Bundle ~ 8 Amazing Activities

Parts of the Animal Cell (Free Printables)

The Human Body System Series Bundle