Natural polymers
I can name the monomers of some natural polymers, and understand their importance for life.
Natural polymers
I can name the monomers of some natural polymers, and understand their importance for life.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- DNA is made from monomers called nucleotides.
- Natural polymers are important for life.
- The carbohydrates starch and cellulose are made from the monomer glucose.
- Amino acids contain two functional groups and can form polypeptides and proteins.
Keywords
DNA - DNA is a polymer with a double helix structure that carries genetic information.
Polypeptides - Polypeptides are condensation polymers formed from amino acids. They contain peptide bonds.
Proteins - Proteins are polymer molecules made from joining amino acids together. They contain one or more polypeptide chains.
Nucleotides - Nucleotides are monomers that join together to make the polymer chains in DNA.
Amino acids - Amino acids are monomers that join together to form polypeptides and proteins.
Common misconception
Thinking that DNA is made of a single polymer chain.
Use the slides and a model to reinforce that DNA contains two polymer chains in a double helix structure.
To help you plan your year 11 chemistry lesson on: Natural polymers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 chemistry lesson on: Natural polymers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 chemistry lessons from the Organic chemistry unit, dive into the full secondary chemistry curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
polymer with a double helix structure that carries genetic information
polymer molecules made from joining amino acids together
monomers that join together to make the polymer chains in DNA
monomers that join together to form polypeptides and proteins
DNA
starch and cellulose
polypeptides and proteins