Today, Atticus completed his end of lesson quiz on characteristics of living things. We then began our next lesson, learning about cellular structure. We read about the cell membrane and cytoplasm. Atticus utilized a PhET Interactive Simulation: Membrane Channels, where he manipulated the following variables: the levels of ions/proteins inside and outside of a cell membrane, the open/closed protein/ion channels in the cell membrane, and the rate of ion/protein movement. He observed the concentration changes that occurred inside and outside the cell membrane depending on how he manipulated the independent variables. We discussed why a cell may manipulate its membrane channels. Atticus also presented his 6 Characteristics of Living Things project.