Learning Activity

Enzyme Research Lab

Subject Area

Science
Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Students will research the role of enzymes and how their deficiencies can affect living things.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.R5

Locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.R5

Vocabulary

  • curate

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to find valid sources to answer a given research topic.
  • how to cite sources.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • locate valid digital resources to answer given research questions.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • a great deal of information is available.
  • it is important to validate information and to cite the source of information.
Science (2015) Grade(s): 09-12 - Biology

SC15.BIO.1

Use models to compare and contrast how the structural characteristics of carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids define their function in organisms.

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.BIO.1

Vocabulary

  • Atom
  • Nucleus
  • Proton
  • Neutron
  • Electron
  • Element
  • Compound
  • Isotope
  • Covalent bond
  • Molecule
  • Ion
  • Ionic bond
  • Van der Waals force
  • Macromolecule
  • Polymer
  • Carbohydrate
  • Monosaccharide
  • Disaccharide
  • Polysaccharide
  • Lipid
  • Saturated fats
  • Unsaturated fats
  • Triglyceride
  • Phospholipid
  • Hydrophobic
  • Steroids
  • Protein
  • Amino acid
  • Peptide bonds
  • Nucleic acid
  • Nucleotide
  • DNA
  • RNA
  • ATP

Knowledge

Students know:
  • An atom is composed of smaller particles, such as protons, neutrons and electrons.
  • Atoms of the same or different elements can form chemical bonds. The type of bond formed, such as covalent, ionic, or hydrogen, depends on the atomic structure of the element. Carbohydrates, Lipids, proteins and nucleic acids are the four macromolecules that compose life.
  • Carbohydrates are composed of a monomer of one carbon, 2 hydrogen and one oxygen atoms (CH2O). The role of carbohydrates in biological processes such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
  • The role of lipids in biological processes such as cell membrane function and energy storage.
  • The basic structure of a lipid includes fatty acid tails composed of a chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms by single or double bonds.
  • Proteins are made of amino acids, which are small compounds that are made of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen hydrogen and sometimes sulfur. The structure of an amino acid consists of a carbon atom in the center which is bonded with a hydrogen, an amino group, a carboxyl group and a variable group—its that variable group that makes each amino acid different.
  • The roles of proteins in biological processes such as enzyme function or structural functionality.
  • Nucleic acids are made of smaller repeating subuntits composed of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and hydrogen atoms, called nucleotides.
  • There are six major nucleotides—all of which have three units—a phosphate, a nitrogenous base, and a ribose sugar. The role of nucleic acids in biological processes such as transmission of hereditary information.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Describe the particles that compose an atom.
  • Relate atomic particles to types of chemical bonding such as covalent, ionic and hydrogen.
  • Describe Van der Waals forces.
  • Identify patterns in the elements that compose each macromolecule.
  • Identify the arrangement of monomer units in carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.
  • Differentiate macromolecules based on common characteristics.
  • Construct models of the four major macromolecules.
  • Analyze models of the four major biomolecules to identify the monomer unit that repeats across the macromolecule polymer and relate molecular structure to biological function.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Cells are made of atoms.
  • The four macromolecules that compose life are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
  • Macromolecules contain distinct patterns of monomer subunits that repeat across the macromolecule polymer and that structure affects the biological function of the macromolecule.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Crosscutting Concepts

Structure and Function

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  1. compare and contrast how the structural characteristic of protein define their function in organisms.
  2. locate information from digital sources regarding enzymes and their importance to living things.
  3. cite text evidence by origin of the information. 

Activity Details

Teacher will:

  1. Put students into groups.
  2. Allow students access to the Internet, computers, iPads, Tablets, or Smartphones.
  3. Project the research lab presentation on the board.

The student will:

  1.  Get in the groups that the teacher has selected.
  2.  Utilize the Internet in an appropriate manner to research specific topics.
  3. Provide credit to the source of information that they have obtained by citing textual evidence.
Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Students will be assessed on their research skills by the following rubric.

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Teachers should have already taught information about proteins, enzymes, and their purpose.

Digital Tools / Resources

Enzyme Research Lab Google Slides
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HsVe9h0F98H9PJ525BB3kPo0e6C3FSZ9xeEbW6l…

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

ksimms1933
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