UTPA STEM/CBI Courses/Surface Area to Volume Ratio
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Course Title: General Biology 2
Lecture Topic: Surface Area to Volume Ratio
Instructor: Matthew Terry
Institution: UTPA
Backwards Design
[edit | edit source]Course Objectives
- Primary Objectives- By the next class period students will be able to:
- Know what happens to surface area as volume increases
- Be able to give real world biological examples of the consequences of this
- Be aware of ways organisms get around this issue
- Predict habitat of aquatic insects based on morphology
- Sub Objectives- The objectives will require that students be able to:
- Calculate surface area and volume
- Think of examples from the biological world
- Difficulties- Students may have difficulty:
- Graphing
- Real-World Contexts- There are many ways that students can use this material in the real-world, such as:
- Determine if a structure functions as an organ for diffusion or temperature regulation based on morphology
- Be able to explain how specific behaviors compensate for these principles
Model of Knowledge
- Concept Map
- What is surface area?
- What is volume?
- How are volume and surface area connected?
- How does the shape of an animal affect these?
- Real world examples (Emperor penguins, lungs, gills, small intestine, whales, etc.)
- How are diffusion and heat conservation connected?
- Content Priorities
- Enduring Understanding
- Surface Area to Volume ratio increase exponentially
- This phenomenon affects the shape and behavior of organisms
- Important to Do and Know
- Calculate and graph surface area and volume for cube as it increases in size
- Use EXCEL to observe the relations of this change
- Demonstrate diffusion using agar and dye
- Demonstrate cooling of water in different volumes and shapes
- Worth Being Familiar with
- How do insects compensate for this?
- What organs are shaped to use this phenomenon?
- Penguin example
- Enduring Understanding
Assessment of Learning
- Formative Assessment
- In Class (groups)
- Compare measurements and graphs of different groups
- Get examples of organs and/or organism behavior that demonstrate this principle
- Place aquatic insects in their environment based on how they get their oxygen
- Homework (individual)
- Complete and turn in a lab report
- In Class (groups)
- Summative Assessment
- Weekly Quiz
- Final Exam
Legacy Cycle
[edit | edit source]OBJECTIVE
By the next class period, students will be able to:
- Know what happens to surface area as volume increases
- Be able to give real world biological examples of the consequences of this
- Know ways that organisms get around this issue
- Predict habitat of aquatic insects based on morphology
The objectives will require that students be able to:
- Calculate volume and surface area
- Use excel
- Make logical predictions based on the learned concepts and observation
THE CHALLENGE
It's Not Easy Being Big: How does the relationship between surface area and volume impact living organisms?
GENERATE IDEAS
In class brainstorming and discussion
MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES
- Emperor Penguin example
- Tissue pictures
RESEARCH & REVISE
Written and oral feedback from students
TEST YOUR METTLE
- Open oral questions to the class
- Written quiz at the beginning of the next lab
GO PUBLIC
Groups present their graphical results to the class
Pre-Lesson Quiz
[edit | edit source]- How do you calculate the volume of a cube?
- How do you calculate the surface area of a cube?
- What happens to the surface area of a cube as you increase its size (volume)?
- Does this occur at the same rate as you increase volume?
- Would this process change if you used a different shape, such as a sphere?
- What cools faster, 100 ml of water or 1000 ml of water?
- How might you slow the rate at which the water cools?
- Name an organ for which diffusion is a major part of its function.
- Name one strategy that organisms use to slow the amount of heat they lose.
- Why does a kangaroo lick its arms?
Test Your Mettle Quiz
[edit | edit source]- Which graph best represents the surface area to volume ratio of an elephant as it grows from a baby to an adult?
- What is the function of the alveoli in your lungs?
- How does asthma interfere with this function?
- Why are there no small marine mammals?
- Why are there small marine animals that are not mammals?
- What are three forms of insulation for arctic animals?
- How do emperor penguins survive the Antarctic winters?
- Gills in the diagram below are colored red. Which of the insects comes from an oxygen poor environment?
- Why are there no large insects?
- Describe the phenomenon of counter exchange and how it helps endotherms maintain their body temperature.