Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Literacy Lesson Design--Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration (521)


1. TITLE OF LESSON
Unit 3; Lesson 6—Photosynthesis & Cell Respiration
   
2. CURRICULUM AREA & GRADE LEVEL
9th grade Biology
Dr. Rachel Richards


3. STUDENT INFORMATION
A. English Language Learners
All ELL students are CELDT level 4.
  
4. RATIONALE
A. Enduring Understanding
Plants get their energy by converting sunlight into sugar through a process called photosynthesis. All living organisms break down glucose (from food or sunlight) into ATP for energy in a process called cellular respiration. Photosynthesis requires CO2 and sunlight to begin, while cell respiration requires oxygen and glucose. CO2 is a by-product of cell respiration, and oxygen is a by-product of photosynthesis so the two processes are interdependent. All of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere that we breathe in order to carry out cell respiration comes from photosynthesis. If there were no plants (and phytoplankton) or sunlight, we would not be able to breathe the air around us. In addition, although there are key differences between cell respiration and breathing, the two processes are closely connected. In fact, breathing brings oxygen to the body, which is one of the necessary reactants to start the cell respiration process in our cells.

B. Essential Questions
How are photosynthesis and cell respiration similar? How are they different? Why is photosynthesis necessary for all life on Earth?
 
C. Reason For Instructional Strategies & Student Activities
My classes are composed with freshmen. Most of them don’t like biology, as evidenced by an informal poll on the first day of class. Therefore, my classes are very hands-on and activities-based. In addition, I design my intros, presentations, and activities to be fun, engaging, and thought-provoking. The use of multiple resources and teaching styles will help my diverse class understand the key points of this unit, regardless of whether they learn through visual, auditory, and/or kinesthetic modalities. These various strategies will also help the ELL students and students with special needs in my class learn the new material by being exposed to it in different ways.
 
5. CONTENT STANDARD(S)
1. Cell Biology: The fundamental life processes of plants and animals depend on a variety of chemical reactions that occur in specialized areas of the organism’s cells.
1. Cell Biology: The fundamental life processes of plants and animals depend on a variety of chemical reactions that occur in specialized areas of the organism’s cells.
f. Students know usable energy is captured from sunlight by chloroplasts and is stored through the synthesis of sugar from carbon dioxide.
g. Students know the role of the mitochondria in making stored chemical-bond energy available to cells by completing the breakdown of glucose to carbon dioxide.
i. Students know how chemiosmotic gradients in the mitochondria and chloroplasts store energy for ATP production.

Literacy in Science (Reading & Writing): Based on the Common Core Standards, this lesson will focus on “write informative texts, including scientific processes”. Specifically, students will be asked to “Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and specific facts” (2b). In addition, students will be asked to “determine the central idea or conclusion of a text and provide an accurate summary of the text” (2), as delineated under the Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12.

6. ELD STANDARD(S)
Write Persuasive Compositions (Cluster 3; A): Clarify and defend positions with relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations, and/or expressions of commonly accepted beliefs and logical reasoning.
                 
7. LEARNING GOAL(S) – OBJECTIVES (all cognitive; some psychomotor (lab))
After being presented with content on cell respiration and photosynthesis, students will be able to create and present a poster comparing and contrasting the two processes. In addition, after reading a short article on how phytoplankton supplies over half the Earth’s oxygen students will be able to write a 1-page essay in response to the question: Why is taking care of our ocean’s important in order to ensure the health of our planet in the future (use the words: photosynthesis, cellular respiration, chemical reaction, oxygen and carbon dioxide in your response).

8. ASSESSMENT(S)
A. Diagnostic/Entry Level:
3 students will be called on randomly to share their summaries from their notes on ATP (previous lesson). In addition, before launching into new content about cell respiration and photosynthesis, I will ask them to share their definitions of related vocab words (which should be completed). For cell respiration, these vocab words include: cellular respiration, glycolysis, electron transport chain, and Krebs cycle. For photosynthesis, the vocab words include: photosynthesis, light dependent reactions, chlorophyll, stroma, thylakoid, and Calvin cycle.
B. Formative – Progress Monitoring:
Students will asked to share their answers every 2-3 slides when presented with content on cell respiration and photosynthesis. I will circulate as students create their posters to informally check for understanding.
C. Summative:
Students will construct and present a poster comparing and contrasting cell respiration and photosynthesis. Students will also read a short article on phytoplankton and photosynthesis and write a 1-page essay on the relationship between photosynthesis and the air we breathe.
              
9. EXPLANATION OF DIFFERENTIATION FOR ELL & STS W/ SP ED NEEDS
A. English Language Learners
1.) Content: Students are arranged into heterogenous groups of 4 according to current grade so those who need help with note-taking can look at the notes of a partner next to them. I pause to ask for questions to ensure everyone is ready before I advance a slide.
2.) Process: Students are arranged into heterogenous groups of 4 according to current grade so those who need help have others who can provide peer-tutoring (worksheets, labs, poster activity). I circulate as they look through the microscope to provide assistance. Finally, I check for understanding frequently through random Q&A. Students have frequent opportunities to hear other student explanations, as well as being randomly assessed.                                      
3.) Product: Following oral instruction of the poster, students are given a handout with guidelines and written instructions (attached). Students can rely on others and see me for assistance in demonstrating and explaining osmosis after observing swelling in hypotonic solution and shrinking in hypertonic solution. I circulate to assist them while they write their answers on the lab worksheet (attached).
          
A. Students with Special Education Needs
1.) Content: Students with IEPs or 504s are accommodated, as directed. Some students are placed in different seats for better visual access to the whiteboard. Students are arranged into heterogenous groups of 4 according to current grade so those who need help with note-taking can look at the notes of a partner next to them. I pause to ask for questions to ensure everyone is ready before I advance a slide.
2.) Process: Students are arranged into heterogenous groups of 4 according to current grade so those who need help have others who can provide peer-tutoring (worksheets, labs, poster activity). I circulate as they create their posters to provide individual assistance, if needed. Finally, I check for understanding frequently through random Q&A. Students have frequent opportunities to hear other student explanations, as well as being randomly assessed.                                      
3.) Product: Following the oral instructions of how to make their posters, students are given a handout with guidelines and written instructions (attached). Students can rely on others and see me for to aid in comparing and contrasting photosynthesis and cellular respiration. I circulate to assist them while they write their answers on the lab worksheet (attached).  
                                      
10. INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
A. Intro (10 min):
I will instruct students to summarize their notes on ATP from the previous lesson. Then, I will call on students to share their definitions for words related to cell respiration and photosynthesis (which should already be completed). For cell respiration, these vocab words include: cellular respiration, glycolysis, electron transport chain, and Krebs cycle. For photosynthesis, the vocab words include: photosynthesis, light dependent reactions, chlorophyll, stroma, thylakoid, and Calvin cycle.

*Note—For future lessons, I would like to introduce this lesson with a discrepant event. On the demonstration bench would be two, clear, glass containers, both with a lit candle underneath. One of the containers would have a small plant inside as well. Students would be guided to respond to inquiry-based questions in order to think about what the fire is consuming (oxygen) and why the candle in the container with the plant stays lit longer.

B. Instruction (35 min each; 2 days): I will instruct them to open up a fresh page in their spiral notebooks for note-taking. I will then present content on photosynthesis and cell respiration, over the period of 2 days, periodically stopping to ask questions and check for understanding (ppt attached). For photosynthesis, these questions include:
n  Which organelle does photosynthesis?
n  What are three parts of a chloroplast?
n  What are the reactants in photosynthesis?
n  What are the products?
n  What part of the chloroplast does the light dependent reactions?
n  What part does the Calvin Cycle?
n  What temperatures might slow down photosynthesis?
n  If a plant has an unlimited amount of reactants, will photosynthesis speed up forever?
n  What can stop photosynthesis?
For cell respiration, these questions include:
*     What is the equation for cellular respiration?
*     How is it similar to photosynthesis?
*     What is the first stage of cellular respiration?
*     What does the cell check for to see if it should continue cellular respiration?
*     What is the second stage of cellular respiration?
*     What is the third stage of cellular respiration?
*     How much ATP is made by cellular respiration?

C. Guided Practice (Block Day—90 min): After distributing the poster handout and rubric, I will go over it with the class. Students will be instructed to break into their lab groups. Then, I will circulate and answer questions as students prepare their posters. Students will then be instructed to present their posters in groups to the class (4 minutes each). The class will be required to critique each group and vote for their favorite poster. The poster with the most votes receives 5 extra credit points.
D. Independent Practice: Students are given a 1-page article on phytoplankton and photosynthesis. They are instructed to write a 1-page essay explaining why taking care of the ocean is important with respect to the oxygen we breathe.
                                                        
11. STUDENT ACTIVITIES
A. Intro: Students will summarize their notes on ATP from the previous lesson and share responses with the class. Then, they will share definitions for related vocabulary words. For cell respiration, these vocab words include: cellular respiration, glycolysis, electron transport chain, and Krebs cycle. For photosynthesis, the vocab words include: photosynthesis, light dependent reactions, chlorophyll, stroma, thylakoid, and Calvin cycle.
B. Instruction (35 min each; 2 days): Students will take Cornell-style notes on the content presented. Periodically, students will respond to questions embedded in the Powerpoint presentation.
C. Guided Practice (Block Day—90 min): Students will create their posters in groups, prepare for their presentations and present their posters to the class. Students not presenting will critique the presenting group and vote for their favorite poster.
D. Independent Practice: Students will read a 1-page article on phytoplankton and photosynthesis. Then, they will write a 1-page essay explaining why taking care of the ocean is important with respect to the oxygen we breathe.

12. RESOURCES
PowerPoint presentations “Photosyntheis” & “Cell Respiration” (2)
Poster handout
Rubric for poster
Article on “Phytoplankton and Photosynthesis”                                                                                                                                   
 

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