Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 11•
- AQA•
- Higher
Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans and other organisms
I can describe the reactants and products of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans, plants and microorganisms, and explain where, why and when it takes place.
- Year 11•
- AQA•
- Higher
Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans and other organisms
I can describe the reactants and products of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans, plants and microorganisms, and explain where, why and when it takes place.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Word and balanced symbol equations for anaerobic cellular respiration in humans, and conditions in which it occurs.
- Word and symbol equations for anaerobic respiration in plants and micro-organisms, and conditions in which it occurs.
- Anaerobic cellular respiration takes place only in the cell cytoplasm and does not involve mitochondria.
- Anaerobic cellular respiration transfers less energy than aerobic cellular respiration, but more quickly.
- Uses of anaerobic cellular respiration (fermentation) in yeast.
Keywords
Cellular respiration - an exothermic chemical process that transfers energy for life processes, using glucose as a fuel
Anaerobic - a process that does not require oxygen
Lactic acid - a product of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans that causes muscle cramps
Oxygen debt - the amount of oxygen necessary to remove lactic acid from the body after exercise
Fermentation - anaerobic cellular respiration in yeast that produces ethanol (a type of alcohol) and carbon dioxide gas
Common misconception
Students sometimes think that plants don't respire, and that they (only) photosynthesise instead.
This lesson contains examples of plants respiring.
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans and other organisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans and other organisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which chemical reactions release energy to the surroundings?
Q2.Which is the correct symbol equation for respiration?
Q3.Which product is missing from the equation?

Q4.True or false? Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells carry out respiration.
Q5.In which two places does cellular respiration take place in eukaryotic cells?
Q6.What is ethanol more commonly known as?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Anaerobic respiration takes place in the mitochondria of cells.
Q2.What is the correct word equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast?
Q3.Which of the following are true about anaerobic respiration?
Q4.Match the symbol equation to its description.
Anaerobic respiration in humans -Â
C$$_6$$H$$_{12}$$O$$_6$$ --> 2C$$_3$$H$$_6$$O$$_3$$
Anaerobic respiration in microorganisms -Â
C$$_6$$H$$_{12}$$O$$_6$$ --> C$$_2$$H$$_5$$OH + 6CO$$_2$$