• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Diffusion: how particles spread out). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Carbon dioxide made by respiring cells moves into the blood. Which way is the gradient? (the same on both sides / higher in the blood, lower in the cells / there is no carbon dioxide in cells / higher in the cells, lower in the blood) → higher in the cells, lower in the bloodPrompt: Where is carbon dioxide being made?
2. Agar cubes containing indicator were put into acid. Time for the whole cube to change colour: 1 cm cube 6 min, 2 cm cube 12 min, 3 cm cube 18 min. Which cube's centre was reached fastest by the acid? (the 1 cm cube / the 2 cm cube / the 3 cm cube) → the 1 cm cubePrompt: Fastest means the shortest time.
3. Diffusion: which statement is NOT true? (A steeper concentration gradient gives faster diffusion. / Diffusion does not need energy from respiration. / A larger surface area speeds up diffusion. / Diffusion moves particles from low to high concentration.) → Diffusion moves particles from low to high concentration.Prompt: Which direction is the net movement?

• Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
• Share the objective: Surface area to volume ratio and exchange. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: A cube-shaped cell model has sides of 3 cm. What is its surface area to volume ratio, written as ? : 1?
• Step 1: surface area = 6 × 3 × 3 = 54 cm²
• Step 2: volume = 3³ = 27 cm³
• Step 3: 54 ÷ 27 = 2
• Step 4: So the answer is: 2
• Answer: 2
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. A cube-shaped cell model has sides of 6 cm. What is its surface area to volume ratio, written as ? : 1? → 1Prompt: Surface area of a cube = 6 × side × side.
2. An elephant has a much smaller surface area to volume ratio than a mouse. What problem does this cause? (Getting too little food / Moving too fast / Losing heat too quickly / Losing heat quickly enough) → Losing heat quickly enoughPrompt: Heat is lost through the surface.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Why are the alveoli in the lungs so numerous and tiny? (to give a huge surface area for gas exchange / to make the lungs heavier / to filter out food / to store air for later) → to give a huge surface area for gas exchangePrompt: Many small bubbles have more surface than one big bag.
2. A cube-shaped cell model has sides of 3 cm. What is its surface area to volume ratio, written as ? : 1? → 2Prompt: Surface area of a cube = 6 × side × side.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-8.