Biochemistry Happens Inside of You!

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In this four-part activity, learners explore how the body works and the chemistry that happens inside living things. In the first activity about molecule receptors, learners use their sense of smell to identify common substances. Next, learners locate examples of the structures made from different kinds of proteins on their body and cook an egg to examine protein folding. Then, learners dissolve sugar in water to discover the best conditions for the stomach to dissolve food molecules the fastest. Finally, learners test foods for carbohydrates (starch) and lipids (fats). This guide is part of the "Passport to Chemistry Adventure" kit, but the kit is not required to properly facilitate this activity.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$5 - $10 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • 1
 bottle
 of
 tincture 
of 
Iodine
  • 1
 bottle
 of
 ketchup
  • 1
 bottle
 of
 vegetable
 oil
  • 5
 sugar
 cubes
  • 1
 large
 piece
 of
 brown 
paper
  • 1
 oyster
 cracker
  • 1
 piece
 of 
pasta
  • 4
 sample 
bottles
 unlabeled
  • 2 stirrers
  • 1
 plastic
 pipette
 labeled
 iodine
  • 2
 plastic
 test 
tubes 
with 
caps
  • water
  • 1 vial of coffee beans
  • 2 safety goggles
  • notebook
  • egg
  • pot/pan and stove or hot plate for cooking egg

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Cells
    • Human Body
      • The Brain and Nervous System
      • Digestion
      • Health and Nutrition
    • Human Senses and Perception
      • Smell
  • Physical Sciences
    • Heat and Thermodynamics
      • Heat and Temperature
    • Chemistry
      • Solutions
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
      • Liquids
      • Changes of Phase
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results

Informal Categories

  • Food and Cooking

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • read
  • smell
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Shaw, Maisie ; Gomez, Maria

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Passport to Chemistry Adventure Program, Mount Holyoke College, 2010

Funding Source:

  • Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.