Ideal Size Potato

Teacher Guide: Why Does Cell Size Matter?

Purpose: This lab gives a concrete example of why cells need to be so small. It allows students to do this through understanding the relationships between cell size and diffusion of materials as well as surface area and volume.

Concepts:

B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment.

-12.B.4a Compare physical, ecological and behavioral factors that influence interactions and interdependence of organisms.

Objectives:

After completing this lab, students will be able to calculate rate of diffusion, surface area and volume of a cube, and the reduced ratio between surface area and volume.

After completing this lab, students will be able to describe what happens to the ration between surface area and volume as a cell grows larger.

By completing this lab, students will be able to create a graph using collected data and predict values for unknown points on the graph.

After completing this lab, students will understand why small cell size is necessary and problems which would are associated with larger cells.

Standards:

Stage H 11A-4: Interpret and represent analysis of results evaluating data sets to explore explanations of unexpected responses and data concurrence, evaluating survey validity and reliability, or analyzing research and data for supporting or refuting the hypothesis.

Stage H 13B- 2: Apply scientific habits of mind to curricular investigations in life, environmental, physical, earth, and space sciences, evaluating evidence, inferring statements based on data, questioning sources of information, explaining necessity of manipulating only one variable at a time, or retrieving mathematical data accurately for scientific analysis.

Stage I 13A- 1: Apply appropriate principles of safety, following established procedures to maintain both personal & environmental safety when handling & disposing of chemicals, estimating risks/benefits to...