Enzyme Breaker Matching Cards
Lab Deck A Digestive System • Enzyme Review
Cut out all 6 Enzyme Cards
Enzyme Breaker Matching Cards
SET 1: THE 6 ENZYMES (LOCKS)
Student Name:
Date:
Class Period:
Lab Station:
How to Play: Cut along dashed lines. Match each Enzyme Card with the Food Substance it breaks down on Page 2!
Carbs (Sugars) Proteins Fats
Carb Cutter LOCK #01
Salivary Amylase
Where It Works: Mouth & Small Intestine
Best Environment: Neutral pH (~7.0)
Starts digesting starches as soon as you chew bread!
Target: Carbohydrates (Sugars) & Starches Matches Card S-01
Protein Chopper LOCK #02
Pepsin
Where It Works: Inside the Stomach
Best Environment: Strong Acid pH (~1.5 – 2.0)
Activated by stomach acid to chop big protein chains.
Target: Whole Proteins (Meat, Eggs) Matches Card S-02
Fat Breaker LOCK #03
Pancreatic Lipase
Where It Works: Small Intestine
Best Environment: Mildly Basic pH (~7.5 – 8.0)
Works with bile from the liver to break down greasy fats.
Target: Dietary Fats & Oils Matches Card S-03
Protein Chopper LOCK #04
Trypsin
Where It Works: Small Intestine
Best Environment: Mildly Basic pH (~8.0)
Made by the pancreas to keep cutting protein pieces.
Target: Partly-Cut Protein Pieces Matches Card S-04
Sugar Splitter LOCK #05
Lactase
Where It Works: Small Intestine Wall
Best Environment: Mild Acid to Neutral (~6.2)
Without this enzyme, milk causes stomach cramps and gas!
Target: Lactose (Milk Carbohydrate / Sugar) Matches Card S-05
Sugar Splitter LOCK #06
Sucrase
Where It Works: Small Intestine Wall
Best Environment: Mild Acid to Neutral (~6.0)
Splits normal table sugar into two simple fuel sugars.
Target: Sucrose (Carbohydrate / Sugar) Matches Card S-06
Sheet 1 of 3: Enzyme Cards Keep cut cards organized before matching. See Substrate Cards on Page 2 →
Lab Deck B Substances Being Broken Down
Cut out all 6 Substance Cards
Target Substances & Products
SET 2: THE 6 SUBSTANCES (KEYS)
Each card shows the food molecule, where you find it in your meals, and what your body turns it into.
Ways to Play: 1. Speed Match: Race against a partner • 2. Memory Game: Flip cards face-down • 3. Solo Quiz
6 Total Pairs
Substance Being Cut KEY #01
Starches (Carbohydrates / Sugars)
Turns Into: Maltose (double sugars) & simple sugars
Found In: Bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, and corn
Starch chains \(\to\) Sweet sugars Carbohydrates (Sugars)
Substance Being Cut KEY #02
Whole Food Proteins
Turns Into: Smaller protein pieces (polypeptides)
Found In: Chicken, beef, eggs, tofu, beans, and fish
First step of protein digestion in acid Protein
Substance Being Cut KEY #03
Fats & Oils (Lipids)
Turns Into: Fatty Acids & Glycerol (fat blocks)
Found In: Butter, olive oil, cheese, bacon, and avocados
Energy storage and cell building blocks Lipid
Substance Being Cut KEY #04
Partly-Cut Protein Chains
Turns Into: Short peptide pieces
Found In: Food mush entering the small intestine
Chops proteins into smaller chunks Protein
Substance Being Cut KEY #05
Lactose (Milk Carbohydrate / Sugar)
Turns Into: 1 Glucose + 1 Galactose (simple sugars)
Found In: Cow's milk, ice cream, yogurt, soft cheese
Missing this causes lactose intolerance Carbohydrates (Sugars)
Substance Being Cut KEY #06
Sucrose (Table Carbohydrate / Sugar)
Turns Into: 1 Glucose + 1 Fructose (fruit sugar)
Found In: White sugar, sweet fruits, honey, candy, soda
Provides fast cellular energy Carbohydrates (Sugars)
Sheet 2 of 3: Target Substances Deck Match each Substance with its Enzyme. Fill in the Sheet on Page 3 →
Student Lab Mat
Enzyme Matching Chart & Questions
Total Score
______ / 20 Points
Check your 6 card pairs, review what each enzyme breaks down, and answer the three real-world questions below.
A Enzyme & Digestion Summary Chart
Review your 6 matched card pairs
Enzyme Name
What It Breaks Down
What It Turns Into
Where It Works
Best pH
1. Salivary Amylase
Carbohydrates (sugars) & starches
Malt sugar & simple sugars
Mouth & Intestine
7.0
2. Pepsin
Food proteins (meat, eggs)
Smaller protein pieces
Stomach
1.8
3. Pancreatic Lipase
Fats & oils (lipids)
Fatty acids & glycerol
Small Intestine
8.0
4. Trypsin
Partly-cut protein pieces
Short peptide pieces
Small Intestine
8.0
5. Lactase
Lactose (milk sugar)
Glucose + Galactose
Small Intestine Wall
6.2
6. Sucrase
Sucrose (table sugar)
Glucose + Fructose
Small Intestine Wall
6.0
B Real-World Science Questions
Question 1: The Sweet Cracker Experiment
3 points
If you chew a plain saltine cracker for two full minutes without swallowing, it starts tasting noticeably sweet! Which enzyme in your saliva causes this change, and what is it turning the bread starch into?
Question 2: Why Does Milk Upset Some People's Stomachs?
3 points
What enzyme is missing or low in people who are lactose intolerant? What happens if they swallow an over-the-counter enzyme pill right before eating ice cream?
Question 3: Stomach Acid vs. Small Intestine
3 points
Pepsin loves strong stomach acid (pH 1.5–2.0). Why does pepsin stop working as soon as food enters the small intestine (where pH is around 8.0)?
Big Idea: Enzymes are like molecular scissors—each enzyme has a specific shape to cut only one kind of food molecule! Sheet 3 of 3
