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Science lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 60 minutes

Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-2CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-3England: A level Biology: Cell membranes (extension)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport.

  • 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: Diffusion, osmosis or active transport?

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Microscope images or slides, Cell diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Diffusion, osmosis or active transport?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which process is this: mineral ions entering root hairs from soil with fewer ions? (diffusion / osmosis / active transport) → active transportPrompt: Is it water specifically? Is it going against the gradient?
  2. A poison stops respiration in root cells. Which process stops first? (active transport of mineral ions / osmosis of water / diffusion of oxygen / all three equally) → active transport of mineral ionsPrompt: Only one process needs energy from respiration.
  3. Transport in cells: which statement is true? (Diffusion is faster when the gradient is steeper. / Osmosis needs energy from respiration. / Water moves by osmosis from a concentrated to a dilute solution. / Active transport only happens in plants.) → Diffusion is faster when the gradient is steeper.Prompt: Which process needs energy?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
  • Share the objective: Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this passive or active transport: a gland cell releasing hormone in vesicles (exocytosis)?
  • Step 1: Active transport and bulk transport use energy from ATP.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: active (uses ATP)
  • Answer: active (uses ATP)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this passive or active transport: simple diffusion of oxygen through the phospholipid bilayer? (passive (no ATP needed) / active (uses ATP)) → passive (no ATP needed)Prompt: Does it go down a gradient by itself?
  2. Why can oxygen cross the membrane easily but glucose needs a protein? (Glucose dissolves in fat / Glucose is a gas / Oxygen is small and non-polar; glucose is larger and polar / Oxygen is too big for proteins) → Oxygen is small and non-polar; glucose is larger and polarPrompt: The middle of the bilayer is made of fatty tails.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is this passive or active transport: the sodium–potassium pump? (passive (no ATP needed) / active (uses ATP)) → active (uses ATP)Prompt: Does it go down a gradient by itself?
  2. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a faulty chloride ion channel protein. What does this show? (Channel proteins carry oxygen / Ions cross membranes without help / Membrane proteins are vital for moving specific ions across membranes / Phospholipids are made of chloride) → Membrane proteins are vital for moving specific ions across membranesPrompt: Charged ions cannot pass through the fatty middle of the bilayer.

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: Diffusion, osmosis or active transport?.
  • Use concrete materials: microscope images or slides.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • 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-12.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Membranes: which statement is true?

    • A. Large proteins pass through the membrane by simple diffusion.
    • B. The cell membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with proteins in it.
    • C. Facilitated diffusion moves substances against their gradient.
    • D. Phospholipid tails are attracted to water.

  2. Question 2

    Is this passive or active transport: a gland cell releasing hormone in vesicles (exocytosis)?

    • A. passive (no ATP needed)
    • B. active (uses ATP)

  3. Question 3

    What are the two parts of a phospholipid molecule?

    • A. two heads and no tails
    • B. a nucleus and a membrane
    • C. a protein and a sugar
    • D. a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and two hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails

  4. Question 4

    Is this passive or active transport: osmosis through aquaporin channels?

    • A. passive (no ATP needed)
    • B. active (uses ATP)

  5. Question 5

    Why can oxygen cross the membrane easily but glucose needs a protein?

    • A. Oxygen is small and non-polar; glucose is larger and polar
    • B. Oxygen is too big for proteins
    • C. Glucose dissolves in fat
    • D. Glucose is a gas

  6. Question 6

    Cystic fibrosis is caused by a faulty chloride ion channel protein. What does this show?

    • A. Membrane proteins are vital for moving specific ions across membranes
    • B. Phospholipids are made of chloride
    • C. Channel proteins carry oxygen
    • D. Ions cross membranes without help

  7. Question 7

    Is this passive or active transport: facilitated diffusion of glucose through a channel or carrier protein?

    • A. passive (no ATP needed)
    • B. active (uses ATP)

  8. Question 8

    Why is the cell membrane described as a "fluid mosaic"?

    • A. It is a rigid wall of cellulose
    • B. Its proteins never move
    • C. It is made of liquid water
    • D. Phospholipids move freely and proteins are scattered through them like tiles

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Answer key: Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport

  1. 1. B. The cell membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with proteins in it.

  2. 2. B. active (uses ATP)

  3. 3. D. a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and two hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails

  4. 4. A. passive (no ATP needed)

  5. 5. A. Oxygen is small and non-polar; glucose is larger and polar

  6. 6. A. Membrane proteins are vital for moving specific ions across membranes

  7. 7. A. passive (no ATP needed)

  8. 8. D. Phospholipids move freely and proteins are scattered through them like tiles