The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Cell Membrane Bubble Investigation Lab

Cell Membrane Bubble Investigation Lab

A 9th Grade STEM Lesson

Savita Narang

May 2024

Notes for Teachers

• This lesson takes place in a classroom for 60-90 minutes.
• Students may work in small groups of 3-4.
• An emphasis on modeling cell membrane properties.

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List of Materials

• spray bottles or damp clothes
• newspaper(optional)
• bendable straws
• spool of cotton thread or kite string
• trays
• scissors
• Ready bubble solution or use water, dish soap, and corn syrup to make some solution
• Handouts: Soap Bubbles Versus Phospholipid Bilayers, Modeling Cell Membrane Properties, and Drawing Conclusions About Cell Membrane Properties

3.4 Cell Membrane-Bubble Lab.pdf

Arizona Standards

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Life Science:

HS+B.L1U1.6 Develop and use models to show how transport mechanisms function in cells.

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Mathematical Practices:

MP.4 Model with mathematics.

MP.5 Use appropriate tools strategically.

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ELA:

9-10.RI.2 Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

9-10.RI.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.

Objectives:

Today we will provide evidence to support the claim that all biological systems demonstrate some shared characteristics.

Agenda

Lesson Time - 60-90 minutes

Part 1 - Introduction to Elicit Prior Knowledge of Cell Membranes

Part 2 - Modeling Cell Membrane Properties

Part 3 - Drawing Conclusions About Cell Membrane Properties

Cell Membrane Properties

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The cell membrane is a bilayer of phospholipid molecules.

Each phospholipid molecule has a hydrophilic end and a

hydrophobic one.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Please use the link below and the instructions on the handout to carry out your investigation.

Work in groups of 4 and carry out all the experiments as instructed. Record your observations in the tables given and draw conclusions based on your observations.

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Cell Membrane Bubble Lab

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Constraints:

Time Limit

Right concentration of soap solution

Bendable straws

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Assessment

We will answer the questions about phospholipid bilayer.

We will conduct five experiments according to the guidelines given in the handout and the video.

We make observations and record them. We will make cell membrane connections.

We will draw conclusions about cell membrane properties.

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Differentiation

Students will be assigned different roles according to their abilities.

A student who is good with measurements can prepare soap solution.

The one good at hands on activities, can get the straw square ready.

The one good at making observations can record them in the table.

The 4th student who is a critical thinker can draw conclusions.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

The following link can be used to add a worksheet to go with the video.

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Worksheet: Cell Membrane - Bubble Lab (free video demo of lab in description)