This is a student-facing handout that helps students practice the 7 characteristics of life. It was designed to provide support practicing the vocabulary words and helping students reflect on their own identity as they practice the words. It is an Emerging CRT resource that I created in collaboration with Erin McRae-Berry.

Students create slides of plant cells. Under a microscope they will make observations when either distilled water or 5% sodium chloride solution is added to the cells. Osmosis will occus resulting in either turgid or plasmolysed cells.

Students place eggs that have been soaked in vinegar in various solutions in order to make observations about osmosis.

This lesson plan includes several hands-on, inquiry-based lab activities exploring the concepts of osmosis and diffusion. The lesson plan is divided into three modules. First, the teacher will demonstrate osmosis and diffusion using gummy bears, salt, celery, food coloring, and hot and cold water. Next, students will participate in a hands-on lab activity that will demonstrate diffusion using various concentrations of corn starch and Lugol's solution. Lastly, students will demonstrate the process of osmosis using dialysis tubing, sucrose solution, cornstarch, phenolphthalein, ammonia, vinegar, and universal indicator solution.

This quiz allows students to check their understanding of passive transport and facilitated diffusion.

Students will microscopically observe various subcellular components and determine the effects of different salt solutions on Elodea plant cells.

The concept of osmotic potential is difficult to grasp. Using this activity, students will be able to “see” how water moves based on differing concentrations of solutions. This activity will help students understand the process of osmosis and develop an understanding of sugar storage in different types of plants. The task also asks students the why of sugar storage and about the role of sugar (carbohydrates) in plants and animals. The task can be used while teaching homeostasis to solidify the concept of osmosis. This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

For this unit plan, see the old unit calendar (link on left sidebar, click ALT3 tab at the bottom).  Once we update this unit to the new Doc template, we will post it here. This is now unit 3, but it used to be unit 2 (we will update file and folder numbering as we continue to revise the units). Thanks for your patience as we work hard this year to update all of the materials to the new unit template and unit/standards arrangements.

Students will examine graphical data describing the behavior of paramecia under various conditions. They determine patterns, make predictions, and describe basic physiological processes. The task assesses students' abilities to identify patterns, make predictions, and utilize their understanding of basic physiology.