Science lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 30 minutes
Aerobic and anaerobic respiration equations compared
Human body and health
CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-7England: GCSE Combined Science: Bioenergetics
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Aerobic and anaerobic respiration equations compared.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Respiration without oxygen: muscles and yeast; Photosynthesis: word and balanced symbol equations
Leads to: Glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain
Materials: Stopwatches, Body diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Respiration without oxygen: muscles and yeast; Photosynthesis: word and balanced symbol equations). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word equation shows the respiration happening here: a marathon runner's muscles at a steady pace? (glucose → lactic acid / glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide / glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water) → glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + waterPrompt: Is there enough oxygen?
- Which is the balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis? (6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ / 6O₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6CO₂ / 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 3O₂ / CO₂ + H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂) → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂Prompt: Carbon dioxide and water are the reactants.
- Yeast was mixed with sugar solution and the gas collected in 10 minutes was measured: 10 °C: 2 cm³ 20 °C: 10 cm³ 30 °C: 11 cm³ 40 °C: 20 cm³ 50 °C: 3 cm³ At which temperature did the yeast respire fastest, in °C? → 40 °CPrompt: The gas is carbon dioxide from respiration.
Hook · 3 min
- Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
- Share the objective: Aerobic and anaerobic respiration equations compared. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which is the balanced symbol equation for aerobic respiration?
- Step 1: glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
- Step 2: So the answer is: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O
- Answer: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which is the balanced symbol equation for aerobic respiration? (C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂ / C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O / C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6CO₂ → 6O₂ + 6H₂O / C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O) → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂OPrompt: Aerobic respiration uses glucose and oxygen.
- Which type of respiration does this describe: it is exothermic? (aerobic only / anaerobic only / both) → bothPrompt: Does it need oxygen?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- 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.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- A muscle cell respires 10 molecules of glucose aerobically. Using C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O, how many molecules of oxygen are needed? → 60Prompt: Look at the ratio in the balanced equation.
- Which is the balanced symbol equation for aerobic respiration? (6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ / C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6CO₂ → 6O₂ + 6H₂O / C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂ / C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O) → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂OPrompt: Aerobic respiration uses glucose and oxygen.
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Respiration without oxygen: muscles and yeast.
- Use concrete materials: stopwatches.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-9.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder