Pond project - macromolecules
Essential questions:
What do algae need to live?
How do algae maintain homeostasis?
What are carbohydrates? Proteins? Lipids? Nucleic Acids?
In the pond project you are trying to determine the effect of nitrates on the growth of algae in a pond. Each group created a model pond that contains a sample of algae and Miracle Grow (a source of nitrates and other nutrients). In this part of the project, you will investigate why algae need these nutrients, where they get them and what they do with them.
As a group you will investigate these questions and use the information to learn how algae maintain homeostasis.
Each group will create a brochure that will explain what algae need to live and grow. This should be designed as a brochure that can be distributed to pond owners so that they can manage their ponds to control algae.
From the brochure, a pond owner should be able decide what things they need to add to increase algae growth or what things they should limit to reduce algae growth.
You should also take into account the effects that excess nutrients will have on other life forms in the pond.
You might research the following things:
Carbohydrates – their structure and function
Proteins - their structure and function
Nucleic acids- their structure and function
Lipids - their structure and function
Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration
Homeostasis
If you need help understanding anything that you find, please fill out a please teach me card.
The standard that this project will address is:
SB1c Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells. Identify the function of the four major macromolecules (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids).
Brochure Grading Rubric
Above and Beyond20 points / Meets Expectations 17 points / Almost there 14 points / Not there less than 14 points
Carbohydrates / Shows an understanding of the structure and function and relates that to the growth of algae. / Shows an understanding of the structure and function but does not relate it to the growth of algae. / Do not understand the structure and function.
Lipids / Shows an understanding of the structure and function and relates that to the growth of algae. / Shows an understanding of the structure and function but does not relate it to the growth of algae. / Do not understand the structure and function
Proteins / Shows an understanding of the structure and function and relates that to the growth of algae. / Shows an understanding of the structure and function but does not relate it to the growth of algae. / Do not understand the structure and function
Nucleic Acids / Shows an understanding of the structure and function and relates that to the growth of algae. / Shows an understanding of the structure and function but does not relate it to the growth of algae. / Do not understand the structure and function
Brochure / The document is something that a landowner could use to help them manage the algae in a pond. / The document just lists the information. / The document is very poorly designed and does not relate the information well.