UNIT OVERVIEW

Every living thing is made from the same basic chemical building blocks. A tiny bacterium in the soil and a large elephant are both built from similar molecules. This unit teaches you what these molecules are and how they work.

What you will learn:

• The main elements found in living things
• The difference between organic and inorganic compounds
• The structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
• Why water, minerals, and vitamins are important for life
• How enzymes work and what affects them
• How to test foods for different nutrients

What you should already know:

• Basic cell structure (from Grade 9)
• Food groups and nutrition basics
• What elements, compounds, and mixtures are
• What atoms and molecules are

Where this leads: This unit is the foundation for understanding cells, cell division, and tissues in later lessons. You will use these ideas throughout Grade 10, 11, and 12.

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