Your teacher may choose to do some or all of the activities below to further help you to understand diffusion of materials out of the intestines and into and out of cells.

1. Your teacher will spray a small amount of perfume in a far corner of the room. As soon as you smell the perfume raise your hand. Did everyone in the room smell the perfume at the same time? Why or why not? Describe the smell when they notice it to a partner.

What do you think is happening.

Draw what this might look like if you could see the drops of perfume in the air. Think back to the dye in water activity.

2. If you are having a hard time visualizing diffusion, this activity may help you better see what is happening. Think about a time when you jumped into a ball pit at your favorite amusement center. This activity is similar to what happened to the balls when you jumped in and moved around. However, in this activity we will only use two colors of balls. Your teacher has placed red balls in a clear plastic container. Watch as she adds a few green balls.

Predict what will happen when the container is shaken.

Discuss your ideas with your group and see if you can come up with a whiteboard drawing that explains what is happening.

3. Another way to see the molecule movement is to use the following analogy. This next analogy was suggested by a student like yourself. To give the idea of movement, this student suggested an analogy of dancers in a crowded room . In the picture below you can see two groups of dancers, one group dressed all in blue and one dressed all in red. At the beginning of the dance, the two groups are on opposite sides of the room.

As the dance continues and the dancers start to move faster, what might happen? Draw arrows on the picture above to indicate what is happening.

Now watch the animation your teacher will show you on diffusion. How is it like the analogies you have just investigated? Do you still have questions about diffusion?

Now think back to all the diffusion activities we have done. What is the same in all the situations?

Draw your explanation of diffusion.

Can your group suggest any new analogies for diffusion that you have generated? Try to use these to help other students who are still having difficulty with the concept.