Category: Cell Biology
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Using Anchoring Phenomenon with Lessons
Start lessons on osmosis with an activity and anchoring phenomenon. View cells exposed to salt and observe how they change!
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Cell Structures: A Graphic Organizer
This graphic organizer (concept map) organizes the cell structures around three main parts of the eukaryotic cell: the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane.
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Photosynthesis Coloring
Students read short text passages and then color images to help them relate the textual information with the graphic.
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Cell Cycle Labeling
Students label the image of a cell undergoing mitosis and answer questions about the cell cycle.
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Comparing the Ameba to the Paramecium
With the adoption of NGSS, I’ve had to make cuts to some of the lessons that biology classes of the past enjoyed. I was sad to see it go, but we no longer do a unit on the Kingdom Protista, but I still manage to fit a microscope lab into other sections.
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Case Study: How to Survive a Cholera Epidemic
In this case, students explore how cholera is spread and how it affects the body. The case is divided into four sections, with the first part focusing on the role of clean water supplies and the spread of bacteria. In the second part, the affects of the bacteria are examined, with attention on how the…
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Investigation: Mitosis and Cancer Cells
The first part of this investigation, students examine slides of mitosis in an onion root tip and count the number of cells in each phase of the cell cycle. An equation is then used to estimate the percentage of time the cell spends in each phase and students create a bar graph to display results. …
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Investigation: Taste Buds and Signal Transduction
As a part of the chapter on cell signal pathways, students perform a lab that examines how their taste buds are affected by Gymnema. For this lab, I simply placed a question on the board “How does Gymnema tea affect your ability to taste sweet foods?” I provided them with a list of…
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Photosystems and Chemiosmosis Coloring
Use this coloring worksheet to explore how plant cells harvest energy form the sun to generate ATP in the process known as chemiosmosis.
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Demonstration: Can Yeast Digest Lactose?
This activity can be performed as student lead inquiry lab or as a class demonstration activity. Students should have a basic understanding of how enzymes work and the relationship between lactose and lactase. If you use Openstax, this is a great lesson to bridge the chapter on enzymes to the next one on respiration and…
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Investigation: Enzyme and Substrate Concentrations
Students who complete the Enzyme Investigation lab can further explore enzymes with this lab on how concentrations of the substrate (hydrogen peroxide) and the enzyme ( catalase) can affect the rate of reaction. In the first experiment, students simply made a judgement about the amount of bubbling to indicate reaction speed, though this is a…
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Mitosis – Internet Exploration
This assignment can be a stand-alone activity to help students learn to identify the phases of mitosis by viewing various animations. There are several sites to visit, where students perform tasks, such as labeling and making comparisons. Site 1: Bioman Mitosis Mover This is a game site where you progress through levels. Students can print…
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Macromolecules: Sketchnotes
In the past, I’ve had students create concept maps to help them organize the four macromolecules and related details. This year, I modified the assignment to try to encourage the use of sketching to help students remember the details. Students were asked to focus on one of the four macromolecules: lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, or…
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Cell Membrane and Transport
This reinforcement worksheet displays a graphic of the cell membrane showing the phospholipid bilayer and embedded proteins. Students identify structures within the bilayer and use reasoning to determine how molecules are moving across the membrane in response to a hypertonic solution. Worksheet was designed for freshman level biology classes who are studying osmosis and…
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McMush Lab
I designed this investigation for AP biology though it could be modified to work with students in introductory biology classes. First students learn the four macromolecules important to life: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. They can then venture into the lab where they use indicators to test for the presence of these molecules in…