Understanding the energy conversion capability of photosynthesis and the artificial nanostructured photocatalysts contrast biotic and abiotic systems, while demonstrating the efficiency of photosynthesis compared to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in generating gas production volumetrically. The experiment results transition to a discussion of photosynthesis and the organelles within the cell where it takes place. This lesson explores light energy capture and transformation into chemical energy during photosynthesis. The lesson can lead to discussion of renewable energy conversion methods and nanotechnology, to help advance nanoscience research to solve the challenging energy issues in the future.
This lesson plan includes several hands-on, inquiry-based lab activities exploring the concepts of osmosis and diffusion. The lesson plan is divided into three modules. First, the teacher will demonstrate osmosis and diffusion using gummy bears, salt, celery, food coloring, and hot and cold water. Next, students will participate in a hands-on lab activity that will demonstrate diffusion using various concentrations of corn starch and Lugol’s solution. Lastly, students will demonstrate the process of osmosis using dialysis tubing, sucrose solution, cornstarch, phenolphthalein, ammonia, vinegar, and universal indicator solution.
The students will identify, describe and discuss the function of the various cellular organelles (nucleus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, etc.) and their functions by drawing the cell with the organelles included and then discussing them with others in the class.
This activity is a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
Students will review the parts of an animal cell using the "Anatomy of an Animal Cell" webpage, and will then use their knowledge of animal cells to create a three-dimensional model of an animal cell.
This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.
Animal cells have many functions that support the life of the animal. Animal cells also have lots of different parts, including the cell body, cytoplasm, mitochondria, nucleus, vacuole, and cell membrane.
The classroom resource provides a slide show that will describe the structures of an animal cell. After utilizing this resource, the students can complete the short test to assess their understanding.
The cells of plants include several parts, such as the cell body, cytoplasm, mitochondria, nucleus, vacuole, cell membrane, cell wall, and chloroplasts. Only plant cells have plant walls and chloroplasts.
The classroom resource provides a slide show that will describe the structures of a plant cell. In addition, there is a sing-along video that students can perform karaoke-style that will help them remember the different structures. After utilizing these two resources, the students can complete the short test to assess their understanding.
This lesson is the second of a two-part series on cells. This lesson encourages students to view the cell as a system. Students will begin to understand the cell as a system by exploring a more familiar and tangible example of a system: a factory. Throughout the lesson, students will compare the factory to a cell, beginning to understand how both can be thought of as a system. The first lesson in this series is Cells 1: Make a Model Cell.
In this lesson, students will compare a plant and animal cell and then make a model of a cell. They will select items to represent various cell structures and justify their choices by describing how the items they have chosen represent the actual parts of a cell. Prior to this lesson, students should have at least been introduced to cells, including the basic differences between plant and animal cells. This lesson is the first of two-part series on cells. The second lesson in this series is Cells 2: The Cell as a System.
