ALEX Learning Activity

  

You Are What You Eat

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Nancy Caffee
System:Blount County
School:Blount County Career Technical Center
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2121
Title:
You Are What You Eat
Digital Tool/Resource:
Comparing Biological Macromolecules
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

Students are introduced to the four major classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids). The video “You Are What You Eat” discusses the biological macromolecules and their role in the body and the food that we eat. The website also includes a chart comparing and contrasting the structural characteristics of the four macromolecules and an explanation of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis. 

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

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Science
SC2015 (2015)
Grade: 9-12
Biology
1 ) Use models to compare and contrast how the structural characteristics of carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids define their function in organisms.


NAEP Framework
NAEP Statement::
L12.1: Living systems are made of complex molecules (including carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids) that consist mostly of a few elements, especially carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorous.

NAEP Statement::
L12.2: Cellular processes are carried out by many different types of molecules, mostly proteins. Protein molecules are long, usually folded chains made from combinations of amino-acid molecules. Protein molecules assemble fats and carbohydrates and carry out other cellular functions. The function of each protein molecule depends on its specific sequence of amino acids and the shape of the molecule.

NAEP Statement::
L12.4: Plants have the capability (through photosynthesis) to take energy from light to form higher energy sugar molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from lower energy molecules. These sugar molecules can be used to make amino acids and other carbon-containing (organic) molecules and assembled into larger molecules with biological activity (including proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, and fats).


Unpacked Content
Scientific And Engineering Practices:
Developing and Using Models
Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Disciplinary Core Idea: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Describe the particles that compose an atom and relate these particles to types of chemical bonding such as covalent, ionic and hydrogen and describe Van der Waals forces.
  • Identify patterns in the elements that compose each macromolecule and the arrangement of monomer units in carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids .
  • Use standard experimental tests to predict the macromolecular content of a given substance.
  • Use models to differentiate macromolecules based on common characteristics.
  • Build models of each of the four macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids) and describe their role in biological processes.
  • Compare and contrast the structure of each macromolecule and predict the function of each from its structure.
Teacher 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.
AMSTI Resources:
ASIM Module:
Macromolecules: Structure and Function; DNA Model; Enzymes; Designer Enzymes; Macromolecules in Food

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SCI.AAS.B.HS.2- Recognize organelles (e.g., mitochondria, ribosomes, chloroplasts) and their functions within plant and animal cells.


Learning Objectives:

Students will describe the term macromolecule. 

Students will use a model to compare and contrast the macromolecules when creating the illustration in the foldable.

Students will be able to distinguish between the four classes of macromolecules:

  • Proteins (polymers of amino acids)
  • Carbohydrates (polymers of sugars)
  • Lipids (polymers of lipid monomers)
  • Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA; polymers of nucleotides)
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:

  1. Students will read the article describing the four types of macromolecules.
  2. Students will view the video “You Are What You Eat”.
  3. Using the information provided in the chart on the website, students will create a four-square foldable with a description of each of the four classes of macromolecules: carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. On each corner, students will name the macromolecule, draw a diagram, give an example, and name one use. (Instructions for foldable)
  4. Students will share their chart with a partner.
Assessment Strategies:

Students will complete the "Check Your Understanding" at the end of the activity and share the results with the teacher. Results can be shared digitally. 

Students will engage in a think, pair, share to assess the understanding of the information on the Macromolecule Foldable.


Advanced Preparation:

The teacher could download the video to a computer or a flash drive.

The teacher should print instructions for making the foldable for the macromolecule by using the following link to the document (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Plnfm2XV0Wm0UEZ-FEd73QrHxZUEYCN02T75JTKxY4/edit?usp=sharing).

 

Variation Tips (optional):

Have students create their own models of the four macromolecules.

Notes or Recommendations (optional):
 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: