Alveoli and gas exchange
Students will explain gas exchange at the alveolus using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
Annotated gas-exchange diagram showing oxygen and carbon dioxide diffusion directions at the alveolus with partial-pressure labels, plus definitions of tidal volume and vital capacity.
- 1Do thisStudents will explain gas exchange at the alveolus using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisNotebook check: Annotated gas-exchange diagram showing oxygen and carbon dioxide diffusion directions at the alveolus with partial-pressure labels, plus definitions of tidal volume and vital capacity.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems) › Unit 3.1 Gas Exchange: Respiratory anatomy, sheep pluck or virtual alternative, lung volumes, spirometry, expedition clearance. › Notebook checkOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Gas exchange at the alveolus is driven by partial-pressure gradients; any structural change that reduces surface area or increases diffusion distance impairs oxygenation.
- 0-10Warm-up: sketch the alveolus and capillary from memory
- 10-28Guided notes: alveolar structure, diffusion direction, tidal volume vs. vital capacity
- 28-45PLTW online gas-exchange activity
- 45-58Draw and annotate diffusion diagram: O2 and CO2 arrows with partial-pressure labels
- 58-70Write one question about gas exchange; peer-answer
- 70-80Submit diagram and PLTW completion confirmation
- • Tomorrow you will measure your own lung volumes with a spirometer, so today you need the structural context.
- • Knowing how alveoli work explains why lung diseases reduce oxygen delivery even when the heart is healthy.
- • The gas-exchange diagram you produce today is a skill directly tested in the WebXam Evaluate Body Systems domain.
- • Leave with a correct diffusion diagram and a completed PLTW activity.
- 1Take notes on alveolar structure and diffusion.
- 2Define tidal volume and vital capacity.
- 3Complete the PLTW online gas-exchange activity.
- 4Diagram oxygen and carbon dioxide movement at the alveolus.
- 5Write one question about gas exchange.
- • Diagram shows correct direction of gas diffusion.
- • PLTW online task is submitted complete.
- • Oxygen diffuses from alveolus into blood; carbon dioxide diffuses from blood into alveolus, both down partial-pressure gradients.
- • Tidal volume is the air moved in a normal breath; vital capacity is the maximum air moved in a forced breath.
- • Pathologies like emphysema (reduced surface area) and pulmonary fibrosis (thickened membrane) impair diffusion.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 3.1 Gas Exchange: Respiratory anatomy, sheep pluck or virtual alternative, lung volumes, spirometry, expedition clearance. · Alveoli and gas exchange
Day 2 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Complete the alveoli and gas-exchange task in Lesson 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection on myPLTW; work through all screens on diffusion, partial pressure, and oxygen transport.
Mark the gas-exchange task complete in myPLTW after submitting your alveolus-exchange diagram.
Monday's task is done; today the gas-exchange task should show complete.
Screenshot or note of completion status for your tracker.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 3.1 Gas Exchange: Respiratory anatomy, sheep pluck or virtual alternative, lung volumes, spirometry, expedition clearance. · Alveoli and gas exchange
Complete the alveoli and gas-exchange task in Lesson 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection on myPLTW; work through all screens on diffusion, partial pressure, and oxygen transport.
Monday's task is done; today the gas-exchange task should show complete.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Students will explain gas exchange at the alveolus using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
- Take notes on alveolar structure and diffusion.
- Define tidal volume and vital capacity.
- Complete the PLTW online gas-exchange activity.
- Diagram oxygen and carbon dioxide movement at the alveolus.
- Write one question about gas exchange.
Notebook check: Annotated gas-exchange diagram showing oxygen and carbon dioxide diffusion directions at the alveolus with partial-pressure labels, plus definitions of tidal volume and vital capacity.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Take notes on alveolar structure and diffusion. | _______ |
| Define tidal volume and vital capacity. | _______ |
| Complete the PLTW online gas-exchange activity. | _______ |
| Diagram oxygen and carbon dioxide movement at the alveolus. | _______ |
| Write one question about gas exchange. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- Diagram shows correct direction of gas diffusion.
- PLTW online task is submitted complete.
Resources & readings
Vetted readings and references for this unit. Use them to prepare, to catch up if you were absent, or to go deeper on today's target.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your Notebook check.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
MedlinePlus: Pulmonary function testsOptional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Mon, Apr 26, 2027 · Alveoli and gas exchange here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
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