Beginning biologists explore passive transport through two demonstrations and a hands-on inquiry. Spray air freshener from one spot in the classroom and have class members raise their hands as the scent reaches them. Also, place a teabag...

After removing the shell from a raw egg, cell biologists soak the egg in either a hypotonic, hypertonic, or isotonic corn syrup solution. They calculate the percent change in mass and compare it to the strength of the solution in a...

High schoolers examine why diffusion and osmosis happen in an egg cell.  In this diffusion lesson students demonstrate a semi permeable membrane.

As an anticipatory set, biologists listen to the story of Ruth Patrick, a scientist who used algae to detect water quality. They observe a demonstration of osmosis and diffusion. In their lab groups, they place Elodea stalks in...

Use salmon eggs as a cell model for demonstrating the movement of water over concentration gradients. Junior scientists examine the same process microscopically with an onion cell. They use a thistle tube and a semipermeable membrane to...

Students distinguish between diffusion and osmosis and describe ways that drugs can be administered.  In this diffusion lesson students research career paths and create a presentation to give to the class. 

Students investigate osmosis and diffusion in a liquid environment. In this osmosis lesson plan, students use dialysis tubing made into bags and filled with 3 different solutions. They observe the movement of water molecules into higher...

No, it really is okay to play with your food! Emerging scientists manipulate popcorn, eggs, and other household objects as they demonstrate multiple cellular processes. The activity, capable of modifications, is designed to reflect...

Beginning biologists place a drop of food coloring into water of differing temperatures to observe the effect on the diffusion rate. They remove the shells from raw eggs and then experiment with osmosis over the remaining membranes....

You may find this presentation helpful in setting up the classic experiment where potato wedges are used for observing the effects of osmosis. You can view the experimental setup in the text and a lab sheet in the pictures, but you will...

Lead your high school class on an exploration inside the cell. Individuals investigate the relationships between cells structure and function given their relative locations on the cell membrane. They explore the concept of homeostasis...

I can move about freely, but you cannot. The class models the movement through cell membranes by way of passive and active transport. Members of the class play the roles of various proteins, atoms, compounds, and cell actions and mimic...

Teach your class how to get out of a cell — or break in. The third installment in a seven-part series introduces the class to cell membranes and their functions. The lesson plan includes information to present to the class,...

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...

Students participate in a review of diffusion and the basic properties of the cell membrane before exploring the process of osmosis in a lab activity. Using shell-less eggs that have soaked in various solutions, students make...

Explore osmosis through art. Learners use paper towels and markers to create beautiful designs. Although a simple activity, the results are quite remarkable. Your class will love this lesson!

Students investigate how water passes through cell membranes. In this biology lesson, students differentiate osmosis and diffusion. They illustrate the movement of water in both processes.

The living environment, from the interior of a cell to the complex relationships among populations, is queried in this final examination. Learners examine air pollution maps, cell diagrams, population graphs, and drawings of cells. They...

Emerging ecologists need a full understanding of life, from the inner workings of a cell to the complex relationships among organisms. This examination is meant to assess high schoolers after an entire year of courses on the living...

The New York Regents High School Examinations are comprehensive and include various question formats, including multiple choice and graph analysis. This particular version, the 2008 Living Environment exam, surveys a variety of topics....

Environmental science enthusiasts show what they know at the end of the year by taking this full-fledged final exam. They answer multiple-choice, graph interpretation, and essay-analysis questions, 73 of them in all. Topics range from...

The 2005 version of the Regents High School Examination in ecology is as comprehensive as previous years' exams. It consists of 40 multiple-choice questions on topics ranging from the structure of DNA to interactions within an ecosystem....

Students investigate osmosis using egg cells with the shells removed. In this osmosis lesson plan, students remove the shell of an egg by letting it soak in vinegar for two days. They take measurements and observe the cell. They soak the...

Students investigate osmotic balance in living cells. In this osmotic balance lesson plan, students use elodea leaves to study the effects of salt solutions on the cell. They compare the changes in an elodea leaf with salt water on it to...