Unfamiliar contexts

Purpose: Some topics are difficult to teach and may benefit from providing additional contexts, so helping students make links between the topic and the wider picture.

Teaching approach:  Respiration is a topic that students find challenging.  In the past, there has only been a limited range of practical activities available that promote student understanding. Digital technology can provide tools to locate information about a broader range of contexts, and can also provide means by which they can be studied.

Preparation: Students may be asked to investigate respiration by comparing the rate at which different samples of food bring about a colour change in hydrogencarbonate indicator. This could be enhanced by using a web search to find information on respiration rates in vegetables, and linking this to food spoilage. A carbon dioxide gas sensor could then be used to measure rates of carbon dioxide release for a five-minute period from a range of vegetables or fruits.

Respiration of fruit and vegetables

• https://foodcrumbles.com/respiration-fruits-vegetables/

• Example of using a gas sensor to measure respiration rates (commercial site)

• https://www.vernier.com/products/sensors/co2-bta/