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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: water entering root hair cells from moist soil? (diffusion / osmosis / active transport) → osmosisPrompt: Is it water specifically? Is it going against the gradient?
  2. Root hair cells contain many mitochondria. What does this suggest? (They absorb water only by diffusion / They do not respire / They use active transport, which needs energy / They photosynthesise) → They use active transport, which needs energyPrompt: What do mitochondria provide?
  3. Transport in cells: which statement is true? (Active transport only happens in plants. / Active transport needs energy from respiration. / Water moves by osmosis from a concentrated to a dilute solution. / Osmosis needs energy from respiration.) → Active transport needs energy from respiration.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: a white blood cell engulfing a bacterium (endocytosis)? (passive (no ATP needed) / active (uses ATP)) → active (uses ATP)Prompt: Does it go down a gradient by itself?
  2. Why is the cell membrane described as a "fluid mosaic"? (It is made of liquid water / It is a rigid wall of cellulose / Phospholipids move freely and proteins are scattered through them like tiles / Its proteins never move) → Phospholipids move freely and proteins are scattered through them like tilesPrompt: Think about both words: fluid and mosaic.

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. Why is the cell membrane described as a "fluid mosaic"? (It is a rigid wall of cellulose / Phospholipids move freely and proteins are scattered through them like tiles / Its proteins never move / It is made of liquid water) → Phospholipids move freely and proteins are scattered through them like tilesPrompt: Think about both words: fluid and mosaic.
  2. Membranes: which statement is true? (Large proteins pass through the membrane by simple diffusion. / The sodium–potassium pump uses ATP. / Phospholipid tails are attracted to water. / Facilitated diffusion moves substances against their gradient.) → The sodium–potassium pump uses ATP.Prompt: Which processes need ATP?

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

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

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

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    Membranes: which statement is true?

    • A. Facilitated diffusion moves substances against their gradient.
    • B. Phospholipid tails are attracted to water.
    • C. Large proteins pass through the membrane by simple diffusion.
    • D. Facilitated diffusion uses carrier or channel proteins but no ATP.

  4. Question 4

    Is this passive or active transport: simple diffusion of oxygen through the phospholipid bilayer?

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

  5. Question 5

    What are the two parts of a phospholipid molecule?

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

  6. Question 6

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

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

  7. Question 7

    Is this passive or active transport: the sodium–potassium pump?

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

  8. Question 8

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

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

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Answer key: Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport

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

  2. 2. C. Oxygen is small and non-polar; glucose is larger and polar

  3. 3. D. Facilitated diffusion uses carrier or channel proteins but no ATP.

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

  5. 5. B. a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and two hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails

  6. 6. B. active (uses ATP)

  7. 7. B. active (uses ATP)

  8. 8. B. Membrane proteins are vital for moving specific ions across membranes