The chemistry of life section acts as a basic chemistry lesson for biology students. Learning objects include those on the nature of matter (elements, atoms, and molecules), properties of water, carbon compounds (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids) , chemical reactions, and enzymes. There are many different types of learning objects provided, from PowerPoint lectures and worksheets, to videos and websites as well as a few labs.
The Nature of Matter
A brief PowerPoint I created over the basics of the Nature of Matter - the atom and the periodic table of elements. Although created from Pearson Education: Biology textbook, it is general enough to be used even if you use another textbook. There are also worksheets created and (c) by Pearson Education: Biology that can be used with this material, and don't necessarily require the textbook to go with it. Pearson Education: Worksheet 1 * Worksheet 2
Another worksheet option for atoms, molecules, and compounds is pages 1-3 of this worksheet from Mcgraw-Hill. Page 4 of the worksheet packet involves the concepts of solutions and macromolecules.
A really cool website on the Periodic Tables of Elements. It is a really good suggestion for students to use if you assign them to do research on an element. It includes for many of the elements who discovered the element, the origin of the name, common uses, and atomic and physical properties. It also opens each element you select as a "tab" allowing you to flip back and forth between them.
This website is a really nice interactive Periodic Table of Elements. It has options for properties of each elements, isotopes, orbitals, and common compounds that each element is a part of. It also has a space for learners to enter a formula and find out about the parts of the compound, as well as the name, and information in each element.
Here's another nice PToE website that uses different colors of text and element block coloration to give the state the element is in at room temperature, as well as numerous other facts. If you click on the element name, it takes you to a new page with numerous facts about the element. I really like how this one is divided, with easy to follow headers. Especially nice is the "fun facts" sections some of the elements have.
If you want to take things a step further and start into a discussion on the types of atomic bonds, this is a really nice tutorial that offers a brief introduction, and then a self-guided or narrator guided tutorial of Electron Shells, Polarity/Hydrogen Bonding, Covalent Bonds, and Ionic Bonds. At then end, there is even a "quiz" to test for understanding.
Another worksheet option for atoms, molecules, and compounds is pages 1-3 of this worksheet from Mcgraw-Hill. Page 4 of the worksheet packet involves the concepts of solutions and macromolecules.
A really cool website on the Periodic Tables of Elements. It is a really good suggestion for students to use if you assign them to do research on an element. It includes for many of the elements who discovered the element, the origin of the name, common uses, and atomic and physical properties. It also opens each element you select as a "tab" allowing you to flip back and forth between them.
This website is a really nice interactive Periodic Table of Elements. It has options for properties of each elements, isotopes, orbitals, and common compounds that each element is a part of. It also has a space for learners to enter a formula and find out about the parts of the compound, as well as the name, and information in each element.
Here's another nice PToE website that uses different colors of text and element block coloration to give the state the element is in at room temperature, as well as numerous other facts. If you click on the element name, it takes you to a new page with numerous facts about the element. I really like how this one is divided, with easy to follow headers. Especially nice is the "fun facts" sections some of the elements have.
If you want to take things a step further and start into a discussion on the types of atomic bonds, this is a really nice tutorial that offers a brief introduction, and then a self-guided or narrator guided tutorial of Electron Shells, Polarity/Hydrogen Bonding, Covalent Bonds, and Ionic Bonds. At then end, there is even a "quiz" to test for understanding.
Nature of Matter Activities
The Atoms Family is a really simple worksheet to get students introduced to atomic math. There are certain elements given that they search out either the element name or the symbol, and then perform the math to find the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons as well as identify the atomic number and atomic mass. One way to differentiate the activity is to remove the atomic number and mass from the PToE box for each symbol on the activity and have students search it out. Then for students that need a little more time to do the math aspect of things, you could leave the worksheet as is, as well as potentially fill in some of the blanks on number of protons, neutrons and electrons to get them going.
Properties of Water
A brief PowerPoint I created from over the properties of water. Although it was created from the Pearson Education: Biology textbook it should be compatible with other textbooks, since the material should be the same, just presented in different ways. There is also a worksheet that goes with it, the first half of the first page deals with the properties of water, and the rest deals with solutions, suspensions, mixtures and pH.
There are numerous videos out there on the properties of water, some better than others. These are the ones that I have found to be brief, easy to understand - and in many cases entertaining.
* Video: How Stuff Works - How Water Works * Video: Droplets of Water - To Stick or Not to Stick * Video: Surface Tension * Video: Bill Nye and Surface Tension * Video: Surface Tension Magic Trick (Pepper and Dish Soap) - You might want to do this demonstration in class instead of showing the video. It is real simple and easy to do. * Video: Capillary Action The water reference sheet lists the four main properties of water as well as consequences/impact of that property on the biosphere. |
If you have students that like coloring pages, this is a really good set to have on hand. The first two pages deal with properties of water. Other pages touch on Acids/Bases and Carbon Compounds.
Properties of Water - Lab Activities
If you are looking for simple labs that can be performed to examine the properties of water, here are a couple suggestions. Each of the labs is designed to be short, so you can combine several into one class period.
Surface Tension Activities - These two activities are real simple and best of all cheap to perform. All up need is water, pennies, a cup and an eyedropper. Okay, you will need a LOT of pennies, but still it is a good activity for a tight budget and it really makes a point.
Water As A Solvent - We use the term "universal solvent", and yet a lot of students really don't understand how water is so very different from other liquids such as vegetable oil. This is a real easy lab they can perform that will show them. You do need to be cautious with this lab and make sure your goggles are in good condition since students will be working with rubbing alcohol.
Specific Heat and Vaporization Temperature - This activity does have some safety cautions, since you will be using heat and rubbing alcohol. Make sure your school knows you will be doing this activity, and that you do have a fire extinguisher on hand - just in case.
Water Olympics is a series of several different activities that are explorations of the properties of water. I believe the source is Fernanda Kain.
Surface Tension Activities - These two activities are real simple and best of all cheap to perform. All up need is water, pennies, a cup and an eyedropper. Okay, you will need a LOT of pennies, but still it is a good activity for a tight budget and it really makes a point.
Water As A Solvent - We use the term "universal solvent", and yet a lot of students really don't understand how water is so very different from other liquids such as vegetable oil. This is a real easy lab they can perform that will show them. You do need to be cautious with this lab and make sure your goggles are in good condition since students will be working with rubbing alcohol.
Specific Heat and Vaporization Temperature - This activity does have some safety cautions, since you will be using heat and rubbing alcohol. Make sure your school knows you will be doing this activity, and that you do have a fire extinguisher on hand - just in case.
Water Olympics is a series of several different activities that are explorations of the properties of water. I believe the source is Fernanda Kain.
Mixtures, Solutions, Suspensions, and the pH Scale
A brief PowerPoint I created from over mixtures, solutions, suspensions, and the pH scale. Although it was created from the Pearson Education: Biology textbook it should be compatible with other textbooks, since the material should be the same, just presented in different ways. There is also a worksheet that goes with the notes, the first half of the first page deals with the properties of water, and the rest deals with solutions, suspensions, mixtures and pH.
Sodium and Chloride "ions" as well as water molecules for students to cut out and use to demonstrate an understanding of how Sodium-Chloride molecules are dissolved in water. This is a real simple activity that works well for teachers on a budget.
If you have students that like coloring pages, this is a really good set to have on hand. Pages 3-4 deal with Acids and Bases. Other pages touch on Properties of water and Carbon Compounds. pH - Lab ActivitiesFinding pH is one of the easiest labs students can perform. All you need is various liquids with different pHs and some pH strips. I suggest putting the liquids in squeeze bottles with a small top, that way students can just put a drop or two on the pH strip and it removes the possibility of spillage. Here is a general lab worksheet, with liquid suggestions - although you can always modify to suit your own needs.
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Another pH lab is on common substances. In this inquiry based activity, students first form ideas about what the pH of various liquids will be, and then actually test to find out. A good suggestions is to have them bring in their own liquids - either dish/laundry soap, samples of household cleaners, or even favorite drinks.
Although this website doesn't have a US section yet, using the Europe->UK->London section of Skool leads to some interesting tutorials. One of them is a really nice one on the pH scale. I would suggest following it up with the tutorial on Acids, Alkalines, and Indicators. Well worth working through before doing a pH lab.
Although this website doesn't have a US section yet, using the Europe->UK->London section of Skool leads to some interesting tutorials. One of them is a really nice one on the pH scale. I would suggest following it up with the tutorial on Acids, Alkalines, and Indicators. Well worth working through before doing a pH lab.
Carbon Compounds
A brief PowerPoint I created over Carbon Compounds. Although created from information in the Pearson Education: Biology textbook, it is basic info on carbon compounds that should be compatible with any textbook. There are also a couple worksheets that go with the notes, as well as a concept map: Worksheet 1 * Worksheet 2 * Concept Map
Macromolecules is a online tutorial that provides a brief introduction on macromolecules and the information and animations for lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins. What's really nice is that it ends with a "quiz" to test understanding and retention.
Biomolecules: Proteins is a brief tutorial on proteins offered free by a website that also has a store for learning objects. They also offer tutorials on Biomolecules: Lipids, and Biomolecules: Carbohydrates.
The Amino Acid Collection is offered by Florida State Univ. For each of the 20 most common amino acids there is a brief description and image. This is really nice if you have students that need a challenge or work at a faster pace that the core of the class. They can delve deeper into learning about amino acids.
If you have students that like coloring pages, this is a really good set to have on hand. Pages 5-16 focus on Carbon Compounds with two sections on Carbohydrates, and one each on Lipids, Proteins, and Amino Acids. Other pages touch on Properties of Water and Acids/Bases.
Two really good companion animated tutorials are Macromolecules: Nucleic Acids and Proteins and Macromolecules: Carbohydrates and Lipids. Both tutorials offer the option of self-guided or narrated animations. At the end, studedents can take a 'quiz' to test their understanding of the material.
Macromolecules is a online tutorial that provides a brief introduction on macromolecules and the information and animations for lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins. What's really nice is that it ends with a "quiz" to test understanding and retention.
Biomolecules: Proteins is a brief tutorial on proteins offered free by a website that also has a store for learning objects. They also offer tutorials on Biomolecules: Lipids, and Biomolecules: Carbohydrates.
The Amino Acid Collection is offered by Florida State Univ. For each of the 20 most common amino acids there is a brief description and image. This is really nice if you have students that need a challenge or work at a faster pace that the core of the class. They can delve deeper into learning about amino acids.
If you have students that like coloring pages, this is a really good set to have on hand. Pages 5-16 focus on Carbon Compounds with two sections on Carbohydrates, and one each on Lipids, Proteins, and Amino Acids. Other pages touch on Properties of Water and Acids/Bases.
Two really good companion animated tutorials are Macromolecules: Nucleic Acids and Proteins and Macromolecules: Carbohydrates and Lipids. Both tutorials offer the option of self-guided or narrated animations. At the end, studedents can take a 'quiz' to test their understanding of the material.
Chemical Reactions and Enzymes
A brief PowerPoint I created over chemical reactions and enzymes. Although created from the Pearson Education: Biology textbook, like all of my other powerPoints, it should be general enough to function with any textbook. There are also a couple worksheets that go with this topic: Worksheet 1 * Worksheet 2
If you are looking for animations and videos, I would suggest this YouTube video on Activation Energy. It discusses endothermic and exothermic reactions. It's really nice because in addition to a narration and animation, it also includes energy diagrams.
Another good video is this one over Enzymes. It is also hosted on YouTube, so make sure your school allows classroom access to the site. The narrator for the enzyme video is the same one for the activation energy video.
To help students understand the mechanisms of enzymes, Biology in Motion has a nice, and quick, tutorial. It's on basic Enzyme Characteristics. By comparing an enzyme to a wrench, and the substrate and its products to nuts and bolts, it puts the abstract concept into terms students are familiar with.
If you are looking for animations and videos, I would suggest this YouTube video on Activation Energy. It discusses endothermic and exothermic reactions. It's really nice because in addition to a narration and animation, it also includes energy diagrams.
Another good video is this one over Enzymes. It is also hosted on YouTube, so make sure your school allows classroom access to the site. The narrator for the enzyme video is the same one for the activation energy video.
To help students understand the mechanisms of enzymes, Biology in Motion has a nice, and quick, tutorial. It's on basic Enzyme Characteristics. By comparing an enzyme to a wrench, and the substrate and its products to nuts and bolts, it puts the abstract concept into terms students are familiar with.
Enzymes - Lab Activities
If you are looking for a lab to demonstrate enzymes in action, look no farther that the jello aisle at your supermarket. The activity is really simple, and all you need is: divided petri dishes, fresh pineapple, canned pineapple, distilled water, a couple coffee filters, and some gelatin mix. Here is the materials list as well as a write up of the procedure. To start the activity, either provide students with a copy of the Pineapple Enzyme handout, or project it and read it aloud. There is also a Student Worksheet that goes with the handout.