Cracking Carbs: An Introduction to Carbohydrates

Biology Grades High School 4:28 Video
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Lesson Description

Explore the world of carbohydrates, from simple sugars to complex polysaccharides, and understand their vital role in energy and structure within biological systems.

Video Resource

Introduction to carbohydrates | High school biology | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 4:28
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Monosaccharides (simple sugars) are the building blocks of carbohydrates.
  • Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates formed from chains of monosaccharides.
  • Carbohydrates serve as a primary source of energy and also play structural roles in biological systems.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define carbohydrates and identify their basic chemical components.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between monosaccharides and polysaccharides, providing examples of each.
  • Students will be able to explain the role of carbohydrates as an energy source and a structural component in living organisms.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about carbohydrates. Show food packaging labels and point out the 'carbohydrates' section. Briefly introduce the video and its purpose.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video 'Introduction to carbohydrates'. Instruct students to take notes on key terms and concepts.
  • Discussion and Explanation (10 mins)
    After the video, lead a class discussion to reinforce the concepts presented. Define carbohydrates, monosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Explain the relationship between glucose, glycogen, and energy storage. Discuss the structural role of carbohydrates in plants (cellulose).
  • Activity: Building Carbohydrates (15 mins)
    Students will use modeling clay or other manipulatives to create models of glucose (monosaccharide) and a short glycogen chain (polysaccharide). This hands-on activity will help visualize the monomer-polymer relationship.
  • Assessment and Wrap-up (8 mins)
    Administer the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to assess student understanding. Review any areas of confusion.

Interactive Exercises

  • Carbohydrate Food Sort
    Provide students with a list of common foods and have them categorize each food as primarily containing monosaccharides, polysaccharides, or a combination of both.
  • Online Simulation
    Use an online simulation tool to explore the molecular structures of different carbohydrates and observe how they break down during digestion.

Discussion Questions

  • Why is it important for living organisms to have a readily available source of energy?
  • How does the structure of a carbohydrate relate to its function?
  • What are some examples of foods that are high in carbohydrates, and how do they contribute to our diet?

Skills Developed

  • Critical thinking
  • Scientific literacy
  • Model building
  • Note-taking
  • Data Interpretation

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of the following elements are found in carbohydrates?

Correct Answer: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen

Question 2:

What is the general term for a simple sugar, like glucose?

Correct Answer: Monosaccharide

Question 3:

Glycogen is an example of a:

Correct Answer: Polysaccharide

Question 4:

What is the primary role of carbohydrates in biological systems?

Correct Answer: Energy source and structural component

Question 5:

Which of the following polysaccharides plays a structural role in plants?

Correct Answer: Cellulose

Question 6:

Glucose is a ______ of glycogen.

Correct Answer: Monomer

Question 7:

Which term is often used interchangeably with carbohydrates?

Correct Answer: Saccharide

Question 8:

In what ratio do hydrogen and oxygen typically appear in carbohydrates?

Correct Answer: 2:1

Question 9:

Where is glycogen stored in the human body?

Correct Answer: Liver and muscles

Question 10:

A large molecule with thousands of atoms is known as a:

Correct Answer: Macromolecule

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A simple sugar, like glucose, is called a ___________.

Correct Answer: monosaccharide

Question 2:

Many ___________ are edible and found in the foods we eat.

Correct Answer: carbohydrates

Question 3:

Glycogen is a ___________, made up of repeating glucose molecules.

Correct Answer: polysaccharide

Question 4:

Carbohydrates are a significant ___________ source for biological cells.

Correct Answer: energy

Question 5:

In plants, ___________ plays a structural role.

Correct Answer: cellulose

Question 6:

A monomer is a ___________ for a polymer.

Correct Answer: building block

Question 7:

___________ can be broken down into glucose molecules for energy.

Correct Answer: Glycogen

Question 8:

The term saccharide comes from the Greek word for ___________.

Correct Answer: sweet

Question 9:

Carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen and ___________.

Correct Answer: oxygen

Question 10:

Polysaccharides are part of a broader group of molecules known as ___________.

Correct Answer: macromolecules

Educational Standards

B.LS1.6:Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules. B.LS1.7:Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed, resulting in a net transfer of energy. B.LS1.5:Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.

Teaching Materials

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