Teach Students the Four Macromolecules and Their Functions
- Heather Cowart
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
Do your biology standards call for students to develop an understanding of the four macromolecules and their functions? Ours do! So, we follow a few simple steps to teach students about the four major macromolecules that make up living things.
Begin With a Cake
"Let's suppose we were going to make a cake," you say. "What do we need?". They will tell you things like eggs, flour, sugar, etc. Next, make the connection to macromolecules. Just like we need some key ingredients to make a cake, there are a few basic ingredients of living things. Those ingredients are macromolecules or biomolecules. There are four major macromolecules that act as the ingredients of things: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Now, your students are ready to learn about the four macromolecules that make up living things.
Read About the Four Macromolecules
Now that your students are engaged into learning about the four macromolecules and their functions, let them read about them for exploring and gathering their own information. Check out this Types and Examples of Macromolecules by BYJU’S learning. Do you want to get your students up and moving? Turn the basic information about the four macromolecules into a station or speed dating activity where students gather information about macromolecules and their four types, including their monomers and the types of foods in which they are found.
Build the Macromolecules
As they read, students should learn that macromolecules are made up of smaller parts. Because they are made up of smaller parts or building blocks, next, we build simple models of them and add the page to our notebook. This Macromolecules Building Activity allows students to model how each macromolecule is composed of a different monomer that is joined together to form the various polymers, or macromolecules. You can use it for explaining and helping students understand the concept. And because it includes descriptions, it’s perfect for adding to our notebook as notes. Furthermore, you can use the digital version of the resource as a ticket out the door or other formative assessment.
Explain Further with a Video and Some Notes
If you are familiar with or use the 5 E model, this part of the lesson is the "explanation" step. Now that the students have explored and gathered some information on their own, we want to make sure they understand that information. Therefore, we watch the Biomolecules video by the Amoeba Sisters. As they watch the video, they fill in the missing information to these Macromolecules Doodle Notes. Afterwards, we discuss the notes and provide further explanation, if needed. Now that the students have notes, they use them to complete a concept map to help process and store the information.
Practice with Puzzles About the Four Macromolecules
Now it's time to practice, practice, practice. You can determine how much practice is needed depending on the students. If they've got it, we may only do one puzzle, and I make the others optional. Of course, I want them to complete the optional assignments, so I give extra credit for doing so.
If they are still struggling with the information, you could ask them to complete multiple puzzles. One of my favorite teaching strategies is to have them complete one. To get the next puzzle, I have to check their work. Using this strategy allows me to identify any mistakes and misconceptions with individuals and as a class. And since we are using puzzles, they are quick and easy to check.
Conclude with an Investigation
We know that macromolecules can be found in the foods we eat. Finally, let your students explore the types of foods that we can find each. They can explore with the Who Killed Marcie McFry Investigation. The setup is simple. You begin by blending cooked pasta, water, a small amount of olive oil, crackers, and a drop of food coloring to make it look more interesting. This mixture simulates the meal Marcie ate with her boss. Students perform three simple tests to identify which macromolecules are found in the food to determine who committed the crime. You can download the lab handout, which includes more information about the investigation, below.
And viola! You've taught your students about the four macromolecules found in living things. Do you need the resources I use for the learning sequence? Access them here or use the button below.
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