Virginia Department of Education
The Ratio of Surface Area to Volume
Demonstrate the ratio of surface area to volume in your high school class by using phenolphthalein, gelatin, and an onion. Intrigue the class by leading a discussion on osmosis and diffusion, then making "scientific jello." Participants...
Curated OER
Sizing Cells
High schoolers examine how living cells reproduce to make new cells. In this cell reproduction lesson students complete a lab activity and answer questions.
Nuffield Foundation
Effect of Size on Uptake by Diffusion
Cell size is limited by the surface area to volume ratio, but why is this true? Scholars measure the surface area and volume of cubes before placing them into liquid. After a set amount of time, they measure the uptake by diffusion for...
Virginia Department of Education
The Cell Cycle and Mitosis
What a packed lesson plan! Provide your class with the opportunity to learn about the cell cycle in several exciting ways. Biologists first learn about the theory behind mitosis, then proceed to view onion tips under the microscope and...
Curated OER
Surface to Volume Ratios
High schoolers measure the rate of diffusion and to calculate the surface area to volume ratios of varying cell sizes. The lesson is very clearly organized with a useful student worksheet provided. They perform a lab experiment which is...
Curated OER
Cell Replication
Students use Internet activities and videos to understand the types of cells, their membranes, and the way that they reproduce. For this cellular biology lesson, students use the Internet to view videos and complete activities. They...
Curated OER
How Does Cell Size And Shape Affect Transport of Materials
Tenth graders explore concepts of surface area, volume, and ratios, create spreadsheets to aid organization of data collected and provide graphing capabilities, and use NIH Imaging to enable calculations of microscopic organisms.
Curated OER
Why Are Cells So Small?
Students examine the relationship between cell surface area and the ability of materials to diffuse through a cell. They participate in an experiment in which they determine which materials diffuse easier than others. They complete...
Curated OER
Modeling Limits To Cell Size
Students participate in a 'hands-on' activity that simulates the changing relationship of Surface Areas -to- Volume for a growing cell. They assemble models of cells for comparison.
Curated OER
SA/V Ratio and Rate of Diffusion
High schoolers calculate the SA/V ratio and volume of phenophthalien agar that are cut into different shapes. They then let ammonia diffuse into the various pieces of agar and determine the effect that SA/V had on the rate of diffusion.
Curated OER
Cell Size and Division or How Big Would You Want To Be if You Were a Cell?
Learners investigate why cells divide. In this cell size lesson plan, students observe how far a solution travels into 3 different size model cells of agar. They answer questions about the most effect movement of "nutrients" into the...
Curated OER
Does Size Matter?
Young scholars explore the surface area to volume ratio in cellular respiration. While participating in an interactive lab experiment, they examine proportional surface area and discuss nanotechnology. Students observe the...
Curated OER
Hierarchy Theory and Biotic Hierarchy
Young scholars examine the hierarchy theory and biotic organization by playing a teacher-created card game matching groups of items, such as organelles, in suits of four. They discuss the reasons for their hierarchical organization of...