Cellular Transport - Role Playing

Passive Cellular Transport WorksheetLooking for FREE Biology Worksheets

Before your students even sit down in your very first Biology class, they are already experts in play (they have after all been doing it for 15-16 years by the time they reach high school). So why not channel that energy and expertise into acting out some biological concepts like Passive Cellular Transport?

Role-playing abstract concepts in Biology is a great way for your students to come to grips with the different concepts involved in cellular transport, it’s also pretty entertaining to watch!

Use this activity once you have covered the basics of cell transport, e.g., different types, membrane structure, diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion.

Step 1: Watch this Cellular Transport Video:

To start off here’s a nice little cellular transport video to get your students thinking about the behavior of each structure and molecule involved:

Step 2: Things you will need for this activity:

  • Space (either move the chairs and desks or go for a mini field trip to the gym or field for a change of scenery)
  • Laminated colored cards with the names and roles of the different structures and molecules outlined below.
  • About 1 class period (1 hour)

STEP 3: The main roles:

  1. For passive transport (an easy role play to simulate diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis) :
  • Lipid bi-layer/cell membrane (students linking hands in a line)
  • Carrier molecules
  • Ions
  • Water, oxygen and CO2 molecules
  1. For Active transport (a more complicated role play to simulate active transport, endo/exocytosis):
  • Lipid bi-layer/cell membrane (students linking hands in a line)
  • Transport protein/protein pumps
  • Ion channels
  • Potassium and sodium ions
  • ATP molecules

Extra tips:

  • Work out how many of each role you require, a decently sized cell membrane will use about 8 students, so you can juggle the numbers based on your class size and the transport methods you want them to simulate.
  • Swapping roles allows students to learn about different structures/molecules, so try to give them at least 3 role
  • Allow the students time once you randomly assign them their roles to form a huddle with the other people in the same role so they can discuss how they plan on executing their role.

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Passive Cellular Transport Worksheet

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