Virginia Department of Education
The Ratio of Surface Area to Volume
Demonstrate the ratio of surface area to volume in your high school class by using phenolphthalein, gelatin, and an onion. Intrigue the class by leading a discussion on osmosis and diffusion, then making "scientific jello." Participants...
Curated OER
Sizing Cells
Young scholars examine how living cells reproduce to make new cells. In this cell reproduction activity students complete a lab activity and answer questions.
Serendip
Diffusion and Cell Size and Shape
Is your class ready to size up the topic of diffusion? Help them get cell shape savvy with a well-written handout. The resource covers how substances such as oxygen passively move through the cell membrane and how cell size and shape...
Nuffield Foundation
Effect of Size on Uptake by Diffusion
Cell size is limited by the surface area to volume ratio, but why is this true? Scholars measure the surface area and volume of cubes before placing them into liquid. After a set amount of time, they measure the uptake by diffusion for...
Virginia Department of Education
The Cell Cycle and Mitosis
What a packed lesson plan! Provide your class with the opportunity to learn about the cell cycle in several exciting ways. Biologists first learn about the theory behind mitosis, then proceed to view onion tips under the microscope and...
Curated OER
Surface to Volume Ratios
Students measure the rate of diffusion and to calculate the surface area to volume ratios of varying cell sizes. The activity is very clearly organized with a useful student worksheet provided. They perform a lab experiment which is...
Curated OER
Cell Reproduction
In this cell reproduction worksheet, students will discover that when a cube doubles in size, the surface area grows by four times and the volume grows by eight times. Students will use this information to understand the limits to cell...
Curated OER
Cell Replication
Middle schoolers use Internet activities and videos to understand the types of cells, their membranes, and the way that they reproduce. In this cellular biology lesson, students use the Internet to view videos and complete activities....
Curated OER
Perimeter, Area, and Volume of a Rectangular Prism
In this prism math lesson, students answer and solve the 10 problem sentences for perimeter, area, and volume of a rectangular prism. Students select their answers from multiple choice options.
Curated OER
How Does Cell Size And Shape Affect Transport of Materials
Tenth graders explore concepts of surface area, volume, and ratios, create spreadsheets to aid organization of data collected and provide graphing capabilities, and use NIH Imaging to enable calculations of microscopic organisms.
Curated OER
Why Are Cells So Small?
Students examine the relationship between cell surface area and the ability of materials to diffuse through a cell. They participate in an experiment in which they determine which materials diffuse easier than others. They complete...
Curated OER
Modeling Limits To Cell Size
Students participate in a 'hands-on' activity that simulates the changing relationship of Surface Areas -to- Volume for a growing cell. They assemble models of cells for comparison.
Curated OER
SA/V Ratio and Rate of Diffusion
High schoolers calculate the SA/V ratio and volume of phenophthalien agar that are cut into different shapes. They then let ammonia diffuse into the various pieces of agar and determine the effect that SA/V had on the rate of diffusion.
Curated OER
Cell Size and Division or How Big Would You Want To Be if You Were a Cell?
Learners investigate why cells divide. In this cell size lesson plan, students observe how far a solution travels into 3 different size model cells of agar. They answer questions about the most effect movement of "nutrients" into the...
Gallantsbiocorner.com
Transport Across the Membrane
Take your biology class on an exploration of the inner workings of cells with this multimedia presentation. Looking closely at the structure of cell membranes and the processes of osmosis and diffusion, this resource explains for...
Curated OER
Optimization
In this optimization of satellites worksheet, students read about the Octagonal IMAGE satellite and solve 4 problems related to the size and shape of the satellite and the solar cells used to power the satellite. Students find the mass...
Curated OER
Cellular Transport and the Cell Cycle
With a multitude of questions, this worksheet offers students the opportunity to review their knowledge about the cell cycle. Question types include true/false, word bank, and completing a table about the differences between interphase...
Exploratorium
Viral Packaging
Create a protective protein shell as a package. Using the included template, pupils tape together 20 triangles to create a 20-sided shape to represent the protective shell of a virus. The model of the protein shell incases the nucleic...
Curated OER
Does Size Matter?
Young scholars explore the surface area to volume ratio in cellular respiration. While participating in an interactive lab experiment, they examine proportional surface area and discuss nanotechnology. Students observe the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Hexagonal Pattern of Beehives
Young geometers and biologists investigate the math of nature in an activity that is just the bee's knees. Participants will study the tessellations of hexagons in a beehive, along with the natural rationale behind the specific shape....
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Silver and Bandages: Assessment of Inhibition of Bacteria by Silver Colloid-Impregnated Bandages
Silver: more than jewelry, it's also a natural antimicrobial agent. An inquiry-based lesson asks collaborative groups to design and implement an experiment to test this property. Using samples of silver nanoparticles and a strain of...
Curated OER
Hierarchy Theory and Biotic Hierarchy
Young scholars examine the hierarchy theory and biotic organization by playing a teacher-created card game matching groups of items, such as organelles, in suits of four. They discuss the reasons for their hierarchical organization of...
Curated OER
Can You Hear My Now?: Getting the Message Across
In this power transmittance worksheet, students read about sources that transmit power and are given a chart with the distance and the power transmitted by each device. Students determine the intensity in watts of the power for each...