Energy for Life

Essential Question

How does chemical energy get converted through photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and what is the impact on organisms other than plants?

Iowa Core Connection:

HS-LS1-5.  Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy. 

HS-LS1-7.  Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed, resulting in a net transfer of energy.

HS-LS2-3. Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Learning Expectations:

4.1. During metabolism, stored chemical energy is released from food and used by the body.

Objectives:

(a.) Summarize and model how you lose mass by eating less and/or exercising more.

(b.) Define energy and explain the importance of energy for living organisms.

(c.) Calculate the energy released by the metabolism of food and explain why foods have different energy values.

Links/Sources:

Minds on Biology (MOBs):

MOB 1: The Mathematics of Losing Weight. 

MOB 2: Energy from Food

4.2. During aerobic respiration, energy is released when sugar is broken down into water and carbon dioxide. 

Objectives:

(d.) Summarize the overall process of respiration (include: equation, picture model as well as the cell parts involved.

(e.) Analyze experiments involving respiration and identify organisms that respire.

Links/Sources:

Minds on Biology (MOBs)

MOB 3: Respiration

MOB 4: Exercise and Oxygen

MOB 5: Respiration Experiments

4.3.  During fermentation, energy is released when sugar is partially broken down into alcohol, water and carbon dioxide.  

Objectives:

(f.) Summarize the overall process of fermentation (include: equation, picture model as well as the cell parts involved

(g.) Analyze experiments involving fermentation and identify organisms that ferment.

Links/Sources:

Minds on Biology (MOBs):

MOB 6: Yeast Fermentation

4.4.  During photosynthesis, carbon (CO2)  moves from the environment to organisms that incorporate it into sugars. 

Objectives:

(h.) Provide evidence that most of the mass from a plant comes from the CO2 in the air.

(i.) Explain why photosynthesis feeds most life on Earth.

(j.) Summarize the overall process of photosynthesis (include: equation, picture model, the cell parts involved).

(k.) Analyze experiments involving photosynthesis and identify organisms that photosynthesize.

Links/Sources:

Minds on Biology:

MOB 7: Photosynthesis

MOB 8: Photosynthesis Experiments

MOB 9: Elodea-Snail Lab

MOB 10: Energy for Life

MOB 11: Unit 4 Literacy Practice

MOB 12: Unit 4 Main Ideas

MOB 13: ACT Prep-Yeast Fermentation

MOB 14: ACT Prep-Photosynthesis

MOB 15: Jeopardy