Notice and Wonder: Passive Transport Scenarios
A notice-and-wonder activity for 9th graders in which students closely examine cell membrane diagrams and record observations and questions about the three types of passive transport. It builds scientific observation, vocabulary use (concentration gradient, phospholipid bilayer, selectively permeable), and inquiry-driven questioning, with a short "Words You May Use" glossary to support students as they write.
“Create a notice and wonder on the three types of passive transport”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as an opening or launch activity before formally teaching diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis, so students build their own questions that the lesson can then answer.
- Discussion question: In the oxygen scenario, what do you notice about where the molecules are concentrated, and what do you wonder about why they move?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach the glossary terms and have students first label arrows and crowding in each image before writing full questions in the I Wonder column.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to predict which scenarios would need a carrier protein or channel and to explain how selective permeability shapes their predictions.
- Estimated time: About 20 to 30 minutes for the notice-and-wonder portion, plus 10 minutes for a whole-class share-out of the most interesting questions.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free“Create a notice and wonder on the three types of passive transport”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as an opening or launch activity before formally teaching diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis, so students build their own questions that the lesson can then answer.
- Discussion question: In the oxygen scenario, what do you notice about where the molecules are concentrated, and what do you wonder about why they move?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach the glossary terms and have students first label arrows and crowding in each image before writing full questions in the I Wonder column.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to predict which scenarios would need a carrier protein or channel and to explain how selective permeability shapes their predictions.
- Estimated time: About 20 to 30 minutes for the notice-and-wonder portion, plus 10 minutes for a whole-class share-out of the most interesting questions.
Notice and Wonder: Passive Transport Scenarios
A notice-and-wonder activity for 9th graders in which students closely examine cell membrane diagrams and record observations and questions about the three types of passive transport. It builds scientific observation, vocabulary use (concentration gradient, phospholipid bilayer, selectively permeable), and inquiry-driven questioning, with a short "Words You May Use" glossary to support students as they write.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free