Structure and Function |
| The way an object is shaped or structured determines many of its properties and functions. |
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Microscopic Images of Different Cells: Cell Specialization & Differentiation
In this modeling exercise, students work to connect emergent body functions to the specialized tissues and cells that allow for them to explore the cross-cutting concept “Structure and Function”.
This modeling exercise leverages cellular diversity as a phenomenon to encourage students to think about cellular structure and function (CCC). This can be approached in a number of ways in the classroom. For a more open approach one could work with students to identify the function of different tissues in the human body (e.g. muscle, nervous, immune, blood, etc.) and then asking them to hypothesize (through drawing/modeling) what cells might look that contribution to the overall function. To check their hypotheses, the teacher could provide pictures of the actual cells for students to compare and contrast with their hypothesized model. |
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Suggested Modeling Elements: Cells: General and all, Biomolecules: all Suggested Sensemaking Components: Movement/Motion, Zoom in/out, Flow of Matter See an illustration of this exercise in a vignette |
