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Glycolysis Unlocked

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Lesson Plan

Glycolysis Simplified

Help a 6th grader grasp the glycolysis pathway by identifying its three main stages—splitting, converting, and harvesting energy—and naming key molecules in a 25-minute, one-on-one session.

Glycolysis underpins how the body produces energy. Breaking it into simple stages with hands-on puzzles and personalized coaching boosts understanding and confidence in science.

Audience

6th Grade Student

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive slides, puzzle, and personalized coaching.

Materials

Energy Pathway Slides, Pathway Puzzle, and One-on-One Explanation Script

Prep

Teacher Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

4 minutes

  • Ask the student what happens when we eat sugar and need energy.
  • Introduce ATP as the cell’s “battery.”
  • Explain that glycolysis is the first step in charging that battery.

Step 2

Slide Presentation

6 minutes

  • Use Energy Pathway Slides to show glycolysis in three stages: splitting glucose, converting pieces, and harvesting energy.
  • Emphasize key molecules: glucose, pyruvate, ATP, NADH.
  • Pause for questions after each stage.

Step 3

Puzzle Activity

7 minutes

  • Hand the student the Pathway Puzzle.
  • Have them match molecule names to each stage and sequence the steps.
  • Offer guided hints if they get stuck, reinforcing terminology.

Step 4

One-on-One Coaching

8 minutes

  • Follow the One-on-One Explanation Script to revisit tough spots.
  • Ask the student to teach back one stage in their own words.
  • Provide positive feedback and clarify any remaining misunderstandings.
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Slide Deck

Glycolysis: Unlocking Energy

How do our cells turn sugar into power? Let’s break it down into three fun steps!

Welcome the student. Introduce yourself and explain today’s goal: to see how our cells turn sugar into energy in three simple stages.

Energy in Cells

• ATP is a cell’s rechargeable battery.
• Every action—running, thinking, growing—needs ATP.

Explain ATP as the cell’s battery. Ask: “What powers your phone? How do you think cells get their power?”

Stage 1: Splitting Sugar

Imagine a chocolate bar (glucose). We break it in half into two 3-piece bars ready to cook.

Use a chocolate bar or picture. Emphasize splitting big sugar into small pieces so it fits inside the cell’s ‘oven’.

Stage 2: Converting Pieces

The two halves get prepped—shuffled and trimmed—so they’re ready for energy release.

Show how the pieces get ‘dressed up’ with helpers (enzymes). Compare to cutting fruit or adding toppings.

Stage 3: Harvesting Energy

We pocket energy coins (2 ATP + 2 NADH) and end up with pyruvate—the final snack.

Highlight ATP & NADH as the ‘coins’ of energy. Use a phone-charging analogy.

Quick Recap

  1. Split sugar into two pieces
  2. Convert pieces into energy-ready forms
  3. Harvest ATP & NADH → End with pyruvate

Review each step and molecule. Ask the student to name the three stages and key outputs.

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Worksheet

Pathway Puzzle

Part A: Match the Molecule to its Role

Draw a line to match each molecule below to its correct role in glycolysis.


A. Glucose ...... ______
B. Pyruvate ...... ______
C. ATP ...... ______
D. NADH ...... ______


Roles:

  1. End product that can enter the next stage
  2. Cell’s rechargeable battery coin
  3. Simple sugar we start with
  4. Energy “coin” carrier

Part B: Sequence the Steps

Number the boxes 1 to 3 to show the correct order of glycolysis stages:


[ ] Stage 1: Splitting Sugar
[ ] Stage 2: Converting Pieces
[ ] Stage 3: Harvesting Energy

Part C: Short Answer

Why is it important for cells to harvest energy (ATP) during glycolysis? Explain in your own words.





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Script

One-on-One Explanation Script

Teacher: Hi there! Great job on the puzzle activity. Now I’d like us to talk through each step of glycolysis one more time. Ready to dive in?

Stage 1: Splitting Sugar
Teacher: In your own words, what happens during Stage 1?
(Pause and listen.)

If the student explains correctly:
Teacher: Exactly! We break the big sugar molecule—glucose—into two smaller pieces, just like snapping a chocolate bar in half.

If the student is stuck:
Teacher: Remember the chocolate bar analogy: glucose is a big bar, and we split it into two three-sugar pieces so our cell’s “oven” can process them. Can you try saying that back to me?

Stage 2: Converting Pieces
Teacher: Awesome. Now let’s talk about Stage 2. What happens to those two sugar halves here?
(Pause and listen.)

If the student is correct:
Teacher: Yes—you shuffle and trim those halves with the help of enzyme “helpers” so they’re perfectly prepped.

If the student needs a hint:
Teacher: Think of adding toppings to fruit—each enzyme is like a helper that adds or trims parts so it’s ready for energy release. Can you explain Stage 2 now?

Stage 3: Harvesting Energy
Teacher: Excellent. Finally, Stage 3—what energy “coins” do we collect, and what’s our end product?
(Pause and listen.)

If the student answers:
Teacher: That’s right! We pocket 2 ATP and 2 NADH as our energy coins, and we end up with pyruvate—the cell’s final snack.

If the student is unsure:
Teacher: Think about coins in a video game—ATP and NADH store energy for us. And the leftover piece is pyruvate. Can you put that into your own words?

Teach-Back Challenge
Teacher: You’re doing amazing! Now I’d like you to teach me one of the three stages as if I’ve never heard of glycolysis before. Which stage will you choose, and how will you explain it?
(Pause while student teaches.)

Teacher: Thank you! That was clear and confident. You really understand Stage X.


Wrap-Up & Questions
Teacher: Do you have any questions about any of the stages or the key molecules—glucose, ATP, NADH, or pyruvate?
(Pause and clarify as needed.)

Teacher: Fantastic work today! Remember: Stage 1 splits sugar, Stage 2 converts the pieces, and Stage 3 harvests energy coins. Keep picturing the chocolate bar, enzyme helpers, and energy coins whenever you hear “glycolysis.” You’ve unlocked it!

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