Homeostasis

4. The big challenge

Required Resources

• Slides 30-37
• Student Worksheet 3
• Audio: Audio clips x 4 (7m 26s)
• Video: HMS Endurance in Antarctica

Delivery

• During this Episode, you will play a series of short Audio clips and students should use Student Worksheet 3 to note any physical reactions and challenges that Polly describes against the relevant homeostatic process. They also need to identify the ways that she dealt with them. After each piece of Audio you should stop so students can discuss their answers in pairs or as a class. You may choose to complete this exercise as a class for the first piece of Audio.
• You should encourage pupils to discuss the homeostatic process in as much detail as possible. Highlight that during one piece of Audio, there could be multiple answers within each column.
• Before you play the Audio, present Slides 30-37 to help students visualise Polly's journey and the circumstances that she describes. Video: HMS Endurance in Antarctica can be used again to give students an insight to the icy environment.
• The Audio clips cover the following areas:
  • Edit 1: Calories and food intake
  • Edit 2: Immediate reaction to the cold
  • Edit 3: Thermal layer system
  • Edit 4: Frostbite
• There is a pause between each audio clip. Depending on time, you may choose not to play all four clips to students. You should point out that on the Student Worksheet, students may find they have to include one idea in more than one box.
• The first audio clip is mainly about controlling glucose levels whilst the others are about controlling temperature and water levels (which are linked via sweating).

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Mixed ability pairs will help less able students. You could ensure the key factors and homeostatic mechanisms are displayed as prompts. Class discussion after each Audio clip will progress understanding throughout the Episode. You may choose to complete the first Audio clip as a class to provide an example of what is required.

Higher Ability:

Some students may be able to describe the process across all the homeostatic mechanisms. They may even be able to explain how the different mechanisms are working together e.g. eating to raise blood sugar, metabolism and body temperature.