Obtaining the elements needed to make biological molecules
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe which chemical elements make up carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and where producers and consumers get these elements from.
Key learning points
- All carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are made of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
- All proteins and some lipids also contain the element nitrogen.
- Producers obtain carbon and oxygen from the air, hydrogen from water, and nitrogen from the soil.
- Consumers cannot use carbon from carbon dioxide in air to make biological molecules; only producers can do that.
- Consumers absorb oxygen from the air but get all their carbon and nitrogen by eating producers.
Keywords
Autotrophic - An organism that can make its own food, such as a plant or other producer.
Abiotic - The non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis - The process carried out by plants that converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Producer - An organism that produces its own food, such as a plant.
Consumer - An organism which must eat other organisms in order to obtain food.
Common misconception
That plants absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere, and animals do not need plants to obtain carbon, so plants are not necessary for food.
How plants obtain carbon and nitrogen, and the reliance that consumers have on producers for these inorganic elements is covered in detail.
Teacher tip
Use molymods to show how molecules are rearranged into different and more complex molecules, and consider using collage items to make the poster quicker or more interesting or accessible.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are the monomers of complex carbohydrates?
Q2.Lipids are made from ___________ and __________.
Q3.What type of molecules are joined together to form proteins?
Q4.What biological molecules are plant cell walls made from?
Q5.Match the biological molecule to it use.
For energy and storage.
For growth and repair.
For energy storage, insulation and to make cell membranes.
Q6.Which of the following are disaccharides?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which elements do proteins, carbohydrates and proteins all contain?
Q2.Plants use the process of to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates.
Q3.Match each element to its source.
water
air
soil
Q4.Who is correctly describing how plants get essential elements?
Q5.Which of the following biological molecules always contains nitrogen?
Q6.Match the term to its meaning.
non-living parts of an ecosystem
living parts of an ecosystem
organism that can make its own food, such as a plant
To help you plan your 10 combined science lesson on: Obtaining the elements needed to make biological molecules, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 combined science lesson on: Obtaining the elements needed to make biological molecules, 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 combined science lessons from the Biological molecules and enzymes unit, dive into the full secondary combined science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.