Lesson 6: Enzymes
Rationale: This is the summative activity/lesson of this unit. Students will be able to see the
importance of producing proteins by observing the functions of enzymes which serve as a
catalyst for chemical reactions. Proteins are enzymes, so it is essential for enzymes to be
produced correctly. Students will learn about people who may produce non function enzymes.
Students will observe the effects temperature has on the rate of chemical reactions in a lab by
using liver and hydrogen peroxide. Students will analyze their data and disseminate their results
by creating a graph and concluding statements. To check for understanding students will read
about a lab on enzymes and will analyze the results.
Standards:
•CSS 3.9-12.3 DNA has a general structure and function and a role in heredity and
protein synthesis (for example: replication of DNA and the role of RNA in protein
synthesis)
•CSS 5.9-12.3 graphs, equations or other models are used to analyze systems involving
change and constancy (for example: comparing the geologic time scale to shorter time
frame, exponential growth, a mathematical expression for gas behavior; constructing a
closed ecosystem such as an aquarium)
•CSS 5.9-12.4. there are cause-effect relationships within systems (for example: the
effect of temperature on gas volume, effect of carbon dioxide level on the greenhouse
effect, effects of changing nutrients at the base of a food pyramid)
Objectives:
1.Students will explain the importance of correctly transcribing DNA into proteins in
order to produce an enzyme
2. Students will analyze the effects of temperature on enzymatic activity by recording and
graphing data in a Liver Enzyme lab.
3. Students will investigate results in “Interpreting Enzyme Function” worksheet.
Outline of Lesson:
1.Ask students what 4 main functions of proteins are that they know of and discuss what
students believe an enzyme is.
2. Have students research two enzymes of their choice and describe what the enzyme’s
purpose is.
3. Enzyme notes
4. Liver Enzyme Lab
5. Analyzing liver enzyme lab
6. Students will complete, “Interpreting enzyme function” worksheet for homework as an
assessment piece.
Lesson 6 Reflection:
Lesson 6 went well overall. In this lesson I found a better balance between inquiry and
instruction. Students were required to research information in the enzyme lab before they
conducted it in order to understand what was going on in the liver enzyme lab. Students enjoyed
seeing the physical effects temperature has on enzyme activity. Students were able to visualize
and understand the cause and effect relationships between enzyme activity and temperature by
conducting this experiment. Some of the females in my class were not pleased in using chicken
liver in this lab because it was slimy and blood. In this experiment the scientific method was
greatly reinforces because students were able to test their hypothesis, conduct an experiment,
analyze their data, draw conclusions, and disseminate their findings among one another. Students
were required to practice their literacy and numeracy by developing a constructive written
response based on their graphed data.
In this experiment I hopefully began to find a balance between inquiry and instruction. I
learned by letting the students research the information on their own they will remember the
content better and be able to conduct a lab without my help because they feel as though they
have the power and knowledge to complete the lab on their own. I had students explain the
procedure to me in groups before they actually conducted this experiment. I applied this strategy
later throughout the semester which served helpful and useful in other labs. Students were also
able to make liver bombs in this class which they found fun an exciting. The liver bombs are
made of old film canisters, with liver in them. When hydrogen peroxide is added an enzyme in
the liver called catalase begins to break it down creating gas. The film canister can only hold so
much gas before the pressure becomes so great the lid of the canister pops off. This allowed for
students to further see the purpose of enzymes.