Lesson 1.2 Teacher’s Guide

Biochemistry: Elements and Macromolecules

Standard:

• 9.4.1.2 Cells and cell structures have specific functions that allow an organism to grow, survive and reproduce.

Benchmark:

• 9.4.1.2.1 Recognize that cells are composed primarily of a few elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur), and describe the basic molecular structures and the primary functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

Tentative Timeline:

1.2a. Introduction to Macromolecules

• 1.2.1. Introduction (Day 1): quote/image quick write, pre-assessment of learning targets (fill out table), individual pre-assessment of, vocabulary (fill out table), pre-assessment of vocabulary terms (partner brainstorming bubble maps), class discussion of vocabulary terms
• 1.2.2. Organic Macromolecule Function (Day 2): prior knowledge quick write, vocabulary check, organic macromolecules comparison chart
• 1.2.3. Organic Macromolecule Structure (Day 3): organic macromolecule chemical structures, vocabulary check, practice t-chart
• 1.2.4. Organic Macromolecule Practice (Day 4): macromolecule webquest (requires Flash, will not work natively in iOS, alternate non-Flash webquest with key included here), mini formative assessment on “introduction to macromolecules”

1.2b. Macromolecules: More Practice

• 1.2.5. Organic Macromolecule Review (Day 5): video clip from Bozeman Science, summary “text,” vocabulary reflection
• 1.2.6 and 1.2.7. Organic Macromolecule “Profile Page” Project Assignment (Days 6-7)
• 1.2.8. Sugar Article (Day 8): primary source research article assignment and summary “tweets,” mini formative assessment on “macromolecules: more practice”

1.2c. Tying it all together

• 1.2.9. Philosophical Chairs Class Activity and Reflection Questions (Day 9)
• 1.2.10. - 1.2.12. In-Class Lab Experiment (including teacher handout) (Days 10-12): “Who took Jerell’s iPod - An Organic Macromolecule Mystery” from the University of Pennsylvania
• 1.2.13. Formative Assessment Unit 1 - Lesson #2 (Day 13)

Additional Activities, Resources and Tips:

• A non-primary source article can also be included for differentiation. Students can read and mark the text for the article titled “Quantity of Sugar in Food Supply Linked to Diabetes Rates.” 

• As an extension or introduction activity, some students might benefit from participating in this lesson on food labels. Lesson Plan: Evaluating Information on Food Labels

• In order to include multiple narratives, read this blog disputes the data in the primary source research article: “The relationship of sugar to population-level diabetes prevalence: an econometric analysis of repeated cross-sectional data.” 

• Please click here to go to the GoogleDoc of the teacher prep handout for the experiment “Who took Jerell’s iPod? - An organic macromolecule mystery.” (by Drs. Jennifer Doherty, Ingrid Waldron, and Lori Spindler, Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania)
  
• This supplementary virtual lab demonstration on testing for organic macromolecules requires Flash and will not work natively on iOS devices.