Teacher's Guide
Teacher's Guide
|
Aim
Rationale
Description of Learners
Prerequisites
Objectives/Subject Matter
General Goals
Instructional Plan
Materials
Assessment
Evaluation
Aim
Biochemistry aims to teach students the structures & functions of the most common biological molecules of which they are made.
Rationale
Biology is a science that builds upon itself into an ever expanding hierarchy.
It is easy to understand a concept at one level of the hierarchy, yet difficult
to see how the levels connect. For example, it is easy to remember that
humans exhale carbon dioxide gas, but difficult to see how that is helping
to create
global warming. It is equally as perplexing how this same gas can be converted
to a solid form known as glucose sugar that gives creatures the energy to
live and expel more carbon dioxide.
In essence, Biochemistry is the study of solid, albeit small, structures.
By learning the structures of Biochemistry, a student finding it difficult
to comprehend a biological action may always reduce it to it’s more
tangible, physical-structural parts. Additionally, through studying Biochemistry
early in a course of study, students become familiar with the scientific
vocabulary that is repeatedly referenced unit after unit.
Description of Learners:
This unit is designed for high school students from any setting. The scientific
subject matter is factual around the world; however, the nutrition segment
is directly aimed at students in the United States.
Since the conceptual nature of chemistry makes the subject difficult for
the great majority of students, this unit is designed as a supplemental reinforcement
for students who need more time outside of class to access the curricular
concepts.
Expected Prerequisites:
1. Students must already have learned the concept of the atom & molecule.
2. Students must be able to write their food consumption over a few days
into a journal.
3. Students must have access to a calculator and know basic math.
4. Students must have multiple colored pencils or pens.
5. Students must have access to a computer and know how to use a web browser.
Learning Objectives & Description of Subject Matter:
Assignment 1-
1. Explain the hierarchy of small structures that build to make living organisms.
Activity: Define subatomic, atom, molecule, macromolecule, and determine connection.
a. Structures & Functions of an Atom
Activity: Draw atoms & molecules.
b. Bonding of Atoms
Activity: Draw the bonds of small molecules.
2. Explain how energy
is either gained or lost in reactions, but matter is neither
gained nor lost.
Activity: Describe the movement of atoms in each of the three states.
Assignment 2-
3. Understanding that Biochemistry is really just an awareness of what is
in the foods we eat.
a. Food Nutrients & their Functions
Activity: Identify the nutrients found in each type of food, and determine
each nutrient's purpose.
b. Diet & Disease
Activity: Calculate food servings per day, and compare this to the ideal
diet.
Assignment 3-
4. Explain what we break food down into during digestion.
a. Polymers, Diamers, & Monomers
Activity: Draw THREE macromolecules, and identify the bonds that
are broken during digestion.
5. Explain
why proteins are the most important food nutrients, and describe what our
existence would be like without enzymes.
Activity: List FIVE functions
of proteins in our bodies.
a. Function of Enzymes & Co-enzymes
Activity: Create analogies for enzymes.
6. Explain why someone will die from lack of water before a lack of food.
Activity: Draw the charges and hydrogen bonds within water.
Other General Goals:
1. Understand that structure determines function.
2. Understand the nature of science is to build upon itself.
3. Understand that unknown words may be decoded by recognizing the same/similar
prefixes, roots, and suffixes repeatedly used in science.
4. Understand the unseen microscopic world of chemistry directly relates to the
student’s next real-world macroscopic snack.
Instructional Plan:
1. The Biochemistry unit is designed for students to work individually in a computer
lab.
2. Any incomplete work may be finished/corrected at lunch or home from any
internet connected computer.
3. The unit is designed to require three separate sessions, one for each assignment.
This could be done in three class periods.
Materials:
1. Students will need blank white paper, and colored pencils/pens
to draw with.
Assessment:
1. Instructions for assignments are explained on each assignment page.
2.
Rubrics for
assignments may be found on each assignment page: assignment
1,
assignment
2, assignment
3.
Evaluation:
1. Please respond to the following questions by clicking the appropriate button: