This Unit Covers

National Science Education Standards

Matter, energy and organization in living systems
The cell
Form and function
Change, constancy and measurement
Science as inquiry

Big Ideas

Life requires energy.
Matter provides energy.
Structure (or form) determines function.
Absorption relies on breakdown.
Balance depends on feedback.

Knowledge

Role of food as a source of matter and energy
Process of biosynthesis
Role of metabolism, physical activity and diet on health
Structures and functions of digestive system
Enzyme function
Structure and function of biological macromolecules
Role of feedback, glucose and glycogen in food balance

Skills

Identify protein, carbohydrate and fat in foods.
Compare and contrast biological macromolecules.
Interpret qualitative analysis of food.
Identify parts and functions of digestive system.
Explain how enzymes function.
Illustrate and explain the pathway that food follows during digestion.
Explain biosynthesis.
Explain how the body maintains a “food balance”.
Explain the effects of metabolism on weight.
Explain the effects of physical activity and diet on health.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

Become more amenable to the concept of transformation through open inquiry.
Enhance their understanding that living systems require a continuous input of energy to maintain life.
Enhance their understanding that food is both a source of chemical energy and the matter for building your body (biosynthesis).
Enhance their understanding that metabolism, physical activity and diet affect health.
Enhance their understanding that a variety of organs with specific functions play a role in the digestive system.
Enhance their understanding that enzymes function as biological catalysts and act on specific substrates.
Enhance their understanding that certain organs release enzymes that break down specific macromolecules into necessary end products.
Enhance their understanding that feedback mechanisms, glucose and glycogen all play a role in maintaining food balance.
Become more astute at applying their knowledge of the role of enzymes in catalyzing food during digestion.
Enhance their ability to refine, edit and present their research on the role of transformation in their own lives.

Teacher Notes

This unit should take approximately 16 class periods (50 minutes each).

This is the Transformation unit written by Julia Koble and Joan Baltezore for their 4MAT 4 Biology Curriculum.
To learn more about 4MAT 4 Biology, just one of the programs available in the 4MAT Curriculum Series, visit aboutlearning.com.

Time Frame

Total time : 230 minutes