How Diffusion Works
Explain diffusion as the net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration, and describe its role in moving materials (oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose) in and between cells
Lesson
Set out your lesson
“How Diffusion Works means practising the idea at the table with a simple hands-on check. We will demo once, then your child tries.”
Bring to the table
- Two everyday materials (e.g. ice cube / warm water / salt / spoon)
- Clear cup and paper for notes
Extra for the adult
Worked example. Ice melts in the warm cup: solid → liquid. Heat caused the change.
Optional challenge. For How Diffusion Works, add one harder example after success.
What to notice. Keep one parent note: examples tried; results; support used. This session samples How Diffusion Works, not mastery.
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Teaching approaches
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1 approach
How Diffusion Works means practising the idea at the table with a simple hands-on check. We will demo once, then your child tries.
Materials: Two everyday materials (e.g. ice cube / warm water / salt / spoon); Clear cup and paper for notes. 1. Say the goal of How Diffusion Works in plain words once. 2. Adult shows one property or state change and names solid/liquid/gas or a material property. 3. Child tests three samples and records a property or state observation each time. 4. Fresh check: one fresh property or state observation. Record and stop. Done: three property/state notes with evidence. Proof: parent note of examples and results. Stop: End after the fresh check; keep optional challenge for another day.
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Practice this concept
Start practiceHow Diffusion Works practice
Practice key ideas from How Diffusion Works.
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Learning resources
Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
BBC Bitesize · Practice link — not the full lesson
Living organisms
Before you open · source notes
Living organisms supports How Diffusion Works. An adult previews and guides; this is a learning page, not a scored quiz.
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Before you openAsk the learner one fact they learned and one question they still have.
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Source, access and review notes
Public BBC Bitesize page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.
BBC Bitesize. “Living organisms.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Defines diffusion using particle theory
- Explains the direction of diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the alveoli
- Explains how cells get glucose from the blood using diffusion
- Identifies factors that affect the rate of diffusion (concentration gradient, surface area, distance)
“If your child was asked why oxygen moves from the lungs into the blood without the body needing to pump it, could they explain what diffusion is and why it always moves in one particular direction?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Organisms & Life Processes
- Age range
- Ages 12–13
Standards