Free adapted science tool
An osmosis simulator models water moving across a selectively permeable membrane. Compare the solute concentration inside and outside an animal cell, predict net water movement, then reveal what happens to the cell.
Three fixed examples, one step at a time. No sign-in needed. Static illustrations support reduced-motion preferences.
Reference concentration
Lower than inside
● Dots = nonpenetrating solute. These equal-area samples compare concentration in equal volumes. Dot counts are teaching symbols, not measured values.
Starting surroundings: Hypotonic
◆ = water. The selectively permeable membrane passes water but does not pass this solute. The static drawing is qualitative, not to scale.
Choose a prediction, then reveal the water movement.
Print the current scenario with blank spaces for a prediction and explanation. No student details are requested or saved.
Current scenario: Hypotonic surroundings · Animal-cell model
Reference concentration
Lower than inside
● = nonpenetrating solute in equal-volume samples. Dots are comparative symbols. The membrane passes water, but not this solute.
My prediction for NET water movement (into / out / no net):
My reason, using the inside and outside concentrations:
My prediction for cell size (swells / shrinks / stays the same):
After observing, my explanation (include movement both ways):
Fixed qualitative examples with nonpenetrating solutes; animal cells only. No numerical rates, physical-accuracy claim, or clinical advice. Teacher review required before classroom use.
Science source: OpenStax Biology 2e, 5.2 Passive Transport.
Generated free at spedlessonplanner.com/tools/osmosis-simulator?utm_source=printout - Free SPED teacher tools and AI lesson drafts from IEP goals
Choose hypotonic, isotonic, or hypertonic surroundings. Compare the labeled starting solute samples inside and outside the animal cell.
Select into the cell, out of the cell, or no net movement before revealing the answer.
Reveal water movement, then reveal cell size. Explain the net direction separately from water moving both ways.
Print a blank prediction worksheet for the current scenario. Optionally include the explanation after completing both reveals.
Use the sentence frame: “The outside solute concentration is ___ compared with inside, so I predict ___.” Let learners point, speak, or use the keyboard; compare one scenario at a time. The dotted samples, water diamonds, dashed membrane, and written labels support teaching without relying on color.
This animal-cell model uses fixed examples with nonpenetrating solutes. It does not model plant-cell walls, freely penetrating solutes, numerical rates, or clinical treatment, and makes no claim of physical accuracy. Review the science and adapt the activity before classroom use.
Science reference: OpenStax Biology 2e, section 5.2: Passive Transport.
It is a fixed, qualitative classroom model of water crossing a selectively permeable animal-cell membrane. Choose surroundings, compare concentrations, predict net water movement, and reveal movement and cell-size changes in separate steps.
Water can cross in both directions. The nonpenetrating solute cannot cross. The dots compare solute concentration in equal-volume samples; they are teaching symbols, not measured values.
Net movement is the overall difference between movement in the two directions. At equilibrium water still moves both ways, with equal movement on average and no net change.
Yes. Use one scenario at a time, read the labels aloud, offer the three prediction choices, and allow pointing or a verbal response. Controls work with a keyboard and the model is static. Teacher review is required before classroom use.
Print the current scenario with blank prediction and explanation spaces. After both reveals, you can optionally include the explanation. The activity has no student data fields or storage. It is not a clinical calculator or a physically accurate simulation.
Use SPED Lesson Planner to draft an osmosis lesson from the IEP goals and accommodations you enter. Review and adapt the lesson before use.