1. Carbon: Transformations in Matter and Energy
Environmental Literacy Project Michigan State University
Plants Unit Activity 4.1 Molecular Models for Potatoes Moving & Functioning: Cellular Respiration
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University

2. Plants Unit Map You are here (down the triangle) Application
Lesson 2: Foundations: Zooming into Organisms
Lessons 4 & 5: Explaining How Plants Make Food, Move, Function, and Grow
Lesson 3: Investigating Plants
Lesson 1: Pretest and Expressing Ideas
Lesson 1: Pretest and Initial Ideas
Lesson 6: Explaining Other Examples of Plant Growth and Functioning
Observations
Patterns
Models
Data from mass of plants growing from seed.
Data from plants in the light and dark with BTB.
Plants gain mass (more).
Soil loses mass (less).
Plants take in CO2 in the light.
Plants release CO2 in the dark.
Photosynthesis
Biosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Pre Lesson: Investigation Set-Up
(up the triangle)
Inquiry
Evidence-Based Arguments
Model
(down the triangle)
Application
Observe
Coach
Use the instructional model to show students where they are in the course of the unit.
Show slide 2 of the 4.1 Molecular Models for Potato Cellular Respiration PPT.
Pre Lesson
Pretest
Establish the Problem
Found-ational
Knowl-edge and Practice
Predict & Express Ideas
Fade
Post test
Maintain
Next Unit

3. Connecting Questions about Processes at Different Scales
Unanswered Questions
Macroscopic Scale
How do potatoes move and function?
Microscopic Scale
How do potatoes’ cells get energy to help it to move and function?
Atomic-Molecular Scale
What chemical change provides energy to the potato cells?
Make connections among processes at different scales.
Display slide 3 in the PPT.
Show students the short clip of a plant moving. Follow the link in the PPT, in the materials list, or here (
Introduce students to the new driving question: What do potatoes do when they move and function?
Connect this question at the macroscopic scale to an unanswered question about the Energy Change Question at the microscopic scale: How do a potato’s cells help it to move and function?
Connect this question at the microscopic scale to an unanswered question about the Energy Change Question at the atomic-molecular scale: How does a potato get the energy to move?
Assure students that we will be able to answer several of their unanswered questions by the end of today’s activity.

4. How do plants get energy to move and function?
Materials for growth: Biosynthesis
Food
To Cells
Energy: Cellular respiration
How do a potato plant’s cells get energy to move?
Use slide 4 to show students that plants use food in two ways.
Today we’ll be focusing on energy as one of those uses (cellular respiration).

5. Connecting the Atomic-Molecular Scale to the Macroscopic Scale
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Use the plant animation to connect the atomic-molecular scale to the macroscopic scale
Show slide 5 of the PPT.
Use the animation to support students in connecting the atomic-molecular scale to the macroscopic scale.
Tell students they will be modeling the change that occurs during cellular respiration at the atomic-molecular scale.

6. Three Ways to Represent Molecules: Glucose
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Introduce students to the three different ways we represent molecules in the Carbon TIME units.
Display slide 6 of the PPT. Post a copy of the Three Ways to Represent Glucose 11 x 17 Poster in your classroom and display slide 6 in the PPT. Have students discuss the differences in the three different images we use in the Carbon TIME Units to represent molecules.
The first form uses letters and numbers. Each letter represents a type of atom and each number indicates how many of that atom are in the molecule.
The second form uses letters and sticks. Each letter represents an atom, and each stick represents a bond.
The third form uses balls and sticks. Each ball represents an atom, and each stick represents a bond.

7. How atoms bond together in molecules
Atoms in stable molecules always have a certain number of bonds to other atoms:
Carbon: 4 bonds
Oxygen: 2 bonds
Hydrogen: 1 bond
Oxygen atoms do NOT bond to other oxygen atoms if they can bond to carbon or hydrogen instead.
Chemical energy is stored in bonds between atoms
Some bonds (C-C and C-H) have high chemical energy
Other bonds (C-O and O-H) have low chemical energy
Prepare for building molecular models.
Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a molecular model kit, a set of Forms of Energy Cards, and Molecular Models 11 x 17 Placemat. Pass out one copy of 4.1 Molecular Models for Potato Cellular Respiration Worksheet to each student.
Tell students that they’ll be using molecular models to model the process of cellular respiration which will help them answer several of their unanswered questions.
Show students slide 7 to explain the bonding of atoms in molecules. Tell students that the rules on this slide are important because they apply to all molecules that they will make in all Carbon TIME units.

8. Making the reactant molecules: glucose and oxygen
Complete Steps 1 and 2 in Part B of your worksheet.
Remember that this process is happening in all of the cells in the plant.
Today, let’s think about a potato cell.
Have students use the molecular model kits to construct the reactants.
Use slide 8 to show instructions to construct the reactants: glucose and oxygen. Students can also follow instructions in Part B of their worksheet.

9. Photo of reactant molecules: C6H12O6 (glucose) and O2 (oxygen) Start by making the molecules and energy units of the reactants and putting them on the reactants side, then rearrange the atoms and energy units to show the products.
Glucose
Chemical change
Oxygen
Image Credit (energy cards): Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Image Credit (molecules): Michigan State University
Check students’ work for the reactants.
Show slide 9 in the PPT.
Have students compare their own molecules with the picture on the slide.
Slide 10 shows an important message: after students create their reactant molecules, make sure they put away all unused pieces of their molecule kits. This helps reinforce that the matter and energy in the reactants are conserved through the chemical change, and that only the materials from the reactants are used to build the products.
Reactants
Products
Remember: Atoms last forever (so you can rearrange atoms into new molecules, but can’t add or subtract atoms). Energy lasts forever (so you can change forms of energy, but energy units can’t appear or go away).

10. Important:
When you are finished constructing the reactants, put all extra pieces away.
Check students’ work for the reactants.
Show slide 9 in the PPT.
Have students compare their own molecule with the picture on the slide.
Slide 10 shows an important message: after students create their reactant molecules, make sure they put away all unused pieces of their molecule kits. This helps reinforce that the matter and energy in the reactants are conserved through the chemical change, and that only the materials from the reactants are used to build the products.

11. Record your results Record your results for your reactants.
Have students record their descriptions of atoms and energy in reactant molecules.
Show slide 11 in the PPT.
When they have completed their reactants, tell students to complete the table about matter and energy in Part C of their worksheet for the reactants.

12. Rearranging the atoms to make product molecules: Carbon Dioxide and Water
Complete Steps 3 and 4 in Part B of your worksheet.
Remember that this process is happening in all of the cells in the plant.
Today, let’s think about a potato cell.
Have students construct a model of the product molecules.
Show slide 12 of the PPT and have students re-arrange the atoms to make molecules of CO2 and H2O. Tell students to follow the instructions in steps 3 and 4 in Part B of the worksheet to construct their products.
To do this, they will need to move their molecules from the reactants side to the products side of the placemat. Explain to students that atoms last forever, so they should not add or subtract atoms when they change the reactant molecule into product molecules.

13. Photo of product molecules: CO2 (carbon dioxide) and H2O (water) Start by making the molecules and energy units of the reactants and putting them on the reactants side, then rearrange the atoms and energy units to show the products.
Chemical change
Carbon dioxide
Water
Image Credit (energy cards): Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Image Credit (molecules): Michigan State University
Check students’ work for the products.
Show slide 13 in the PPT.
Have students compare their own molecule with the picture on the slide.
Use slide 14 to compare the reactants and products.
Reactants
Products
Remember: Atoms last forever (so you can rearrange atoms into new molecules, but can’t add or subtract atoms). Energy lasts forever (so you can change forms of energy, but energy units can’t appear or go away).

14. Comparing photos of reactant and product molecules
Start by making the molecules and energy units of the reactants and putting them on the reactants side, then rearrange the atoms and energy units to show the products.
Glucose
Chemical change
Carbon dioxide
Water
Oxygen
Image Credit (energy cards): Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Image Credit (molecules): Michigan State University
Check students’ work for the products.
Show slide 13 in the PPT.
Have students compare their own molecule with the picture on the slide.
Use slide 14 to compare the reactants and products.
Reactants
Products
Remember: Atoms last forever (so you can rearrange atoms into new molecules, but can’t add or subtract atoms). Energy lasts forever (so you can change forms of energy, but energy units can’t appear or go away).

15. Record your results Record your results for your products.
Have students record their descriptions of atoms and energy in product molecules.
Show slide 15 in the PPT.
When students have completed their reactants, tell students to complete the table in Part C in their worksheet that explains what they ended with.
Have students verify that the number of atoms before and after remained constant: Atoms last forever! Tell students that this means that the number of atoms before and after the reaction does not change.

16. What happens to atoms and energy in cellular respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
Glucose
Reactants
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Have students watch an animation of the chemical change.
Show slides in the PPT to help students make connections between what is happening in the animation and the molecular models they made.
For each slide, focus on different atoms and forms of energy and how they change. The animation draws attention to where they atoms begin and end in the reaction.
Water
Products
Oxygen
Motion and heat energy

17. Carbon Dioxide Glucose Water Oxygen Motion and heat energy
What happens to carbon atoms and chemical energy in cellular respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
Glucose
Reactants
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Have students watch an animation of the chemical change.
Show slides in the PPT to help students make connections between what is happening in the animation and the molecular models they made.
For each slide, focus on different atoms and forms of energy and how they change. The animation draws attention to where they atoms begin and end in the reaction.
Water
Products
Carbon atoms become part of carbon dioxide molecules and Chemical energy is transformed into energy for cell work and heat energy.
Oxygen
Motion and heat energy 17

18. What happens to atoms and energy during cellular respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
Glucose
Reactants
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Have students watch an animation of the chemical change.
Show slides in the PPT to help students make connections between what is happening in the animation and the molecular models they made.
For each slide, focus on different atoms and forms of energy and how they change. The animation draws attention to where they atoms begin and end in the reaction.
Water
Products
Oxygen
Motion and heat energy

19. What happens to carbon atoms during cellular respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
Glucose
Reactants
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Have students watch an animation of the chemical change.
Show slides in the PPT to help students make connections between what is happening in the animation and the molecular models they made.
For each slide, focus on different atoms and forms of energy and how they change. The animation draws attention to where they atoms begin and end in the reaction.
Water
Products
Carbon atoms become part of carbon dioxide molecules.
Oxygen
Motion and heat energy 19

20. What happens to oxygen and hydrogen atoms during cellular respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
Glucose
Reactants
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Have students watch an animation of the chemical change.
Show slides in the PPT to help students make connections between what is happening in the animation and the molecular models they made.
For each slide, focus on different atoms and forms of energy and how they change. The animation draws attention to where they atoms begin and end in the reaction.
Water
Products
Oxygen and hydrogen atoms become part of carbon dioxide and water molecules.
Oxygen
Motion and heat energy

21. What happens to chemical energy during cellular respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
Glucose
Reactants
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Have students watch an animation of the chemical change.
Show slides in the PPT to help students make connections between what is happening in the animation and the molecular models they made.
For each slide, focus on different atoms and forms of energy and how they change. The animation draws attention to where they atoms begin and end in the reaction.
Water
Products
Chemical energy is transformed into energy for cell work and heat energy.
Oxygen
Motion and heat energy

22. What happens to atoms and energy during cellular respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
Glucose
Reactants
Chemical change
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University
Have students watch an animation of the chemical change.
Show slides in the PPT to help students make connections between what is happening in the animation and the molecular models they made.
For each slide, focus on different atoms and forms of energy and how they change. The animation draws attention to where they atoms begin and end in the reaction.
Water
Products
Atoms last forever! Energy lasts forever!
Oxygen
Motion and heat energy

23. Discuss with the class
Did the number and type of atoms stay the same at the beginning and end of the chemical change? ____
Did the number of twist ties (representing energy) stay the same at the beginning and end of the chemical change? ____
Why do the numbers of atoms and twist ties have to stay the same?
Discuss results with the class.
Show slide 23 in the PPT.
Complete the “check yourself” questions with the class in Part C.

24. Writing a Chemical Equation
Chemists use chemical equations to show how atoms of reactant molecules are rearranged to make product molecules
Writing the equation in symbols: Chemists use an arrow to show how reactants change into products: [reactant molecule formulas] product molecule formulas]
Saying it in words: Chemists read the arrow as “yield” or “yields:” [reactant molecule names] yield [product molecule names]
Equations must be balanced: Atoms last forever, so reactant and product molecules must have the same number of each kind of atom
Try it: can you write a balanced chemical equation to show the chemical change when animals move (use energy)?
Help students write a balanced chemical equation.
Tell students that now that they have represented a chemical change using molecular models and in animations, they will represent chemical change by writing the chemical equation.
Show Slide 24 to guide students through the process of writing a balanced chemical equation for cellular respiration. Tell students that these rules apply to all chemical reactions.
Tell students to write their equations in Part D of their worksheet.
Have students write their own chemical equations before comparing them with the one on Slide 25.

25. Chemical equation for cellular respiration
C6H12O6 + 6O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O
(in words: glucose reacts with oxygen to yield carbon dioxide and water)
Help students write a balanced chemical equation.
Tell students that now that they have represented a chemical change using molecular models and in animations, they will represent chemical change by writing the chemical equation.
Show Slide 24 to guide students through the process of writing a balanced chemical equation for cellular respiration. Tell students that these rules apply to all chemical reactions.
Tell students to write their equations in Part D of their worksheet.
Have students write their own chemical equations before comparing them with the one on Slide 25.