Biochemistry

Since this unit deals with abstract concepts, I begin the biochemistry unit by talking about the history of how scientists came to our current understandings about atoms.  I give students some basic vocabulary and show them a short video about the structure of an atom.  ​

I then discuss ionic, covalent, hydrogen, and polar bonds.  

I discuss the special importance of the water molecule and talk about water's cohesive and adhesive qualities.  (Water is "attractive".  Like Right Said Fred Video below:  It's Too Sexy.) ​​

​By this time, I have explained that organic chemistry focuses on the elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.  The thrust of this unit is student understanding of the organic molecules:  carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.  Students practice learning about these compounds in a Nutrients Activity Packet, which is available in TEACHING RESOURCES.

Students then complete a pattern matching lab where they learn the molecular arrangement and how to identify structural formulas of organic molecules.  They follow this with another lab in which they practice building three-dimensional models of molecules.  In the next lab they identify carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins with various indicator tests. ​

After these labs are complete I again review organic compounds, chemical bonds, and the special qualities of water.  I then move on to explaining the pH scale and the importance of pH in organisms.  Students later complete a lab in which they learn more about the pH scale.

Finally, I discuss enzymes and how they are used in life processes.  I cover factors that affect enzyme reactions, I again review dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis and explain what endothermic and exothermic reactions are.  Students view two short videos related to enzymes and then they complete a lab in which they use the enzyme catalase, in liver, to break down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.  ​

Supplemental biochemistry labs, assignments, and tests are available either in TEACHING RESOURCES or 40 BIOLOGY LAB ACTIVITIES.  

The Presentation and Student Notes files are available here.