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Science · Grade 9

Cells, Membranes and Transport

Learners compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and follow a protein through the organelles that make and export it. They model the cell membrane as a phospholipid bilayer studded with proteins, explain and predict diffusion and osmosis in animal and plant cells using real-style data, distinguish passive, active and bulk transport by energy use and direction, and calculate surface-area-to-volume ratios to explain why cells stay small.

  • 5 lessons
  • About 125 minutes
  • Cells and transport check: 12 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, draw a graph, match pairs, type a number and put in order
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What learners will discover

  • Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and explain how organelles work together as a system, for example to make and export a protein.
  • Describe the phospholipid bilayer and its proteins (the fluid mosaic model) and explain how membrane structure controls which substances cross.
  • Explain and predict diffusion and osmosis, including the effects of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions on animal and plant cells, and analyse osmosis data.
  • Distinguish simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport and bulk transport by energy use, proteins involved and direction relative to the concentration gradient.
  • Calculate surface-area-to-volume ratios and use them to explain limits on cell size and adaptations for exchange.

Lessons

  1. Two kinds of cells, many working parts 9 steps5 practiceabout 26 min
  2. The membrane: a fluid mosaic 7 steps4 practiceabout 22 min
  3. Diffusion and osmosis 9 steps4 practiceabout 28 min
  4. Passive, active and bulk transport 8 steps5 practiceabout 24 min
  5. Surface area to volume: why cells are small 9 steps5 practiceabout 25 min
  6. Cells and transport check 12 questions at the end

Keep exploring

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Guide for grown-ups