PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesisHow Do Plants Make How Do Plants Make

Food?Food?

Questions To Think AboutQuestions To Think About

What happens inside plants when the sun is What happens inside plants when the sun is shining or when it is raining?shining or when it is raining?

How do plants in the desert survive?How do plants in the desert survive? How important are plants to our environment?How important are plants to our environment? What might happen if there were no plants?What might happen if there were no plants?

DiscussionDiscussion

Of all the organisms in the world, Of all the organisms in the world, green plants green plants are the are the only ones that manufacture their own food.only ones that manufacture their own food.

This process is called This process is called photosynthesis photosynthesis and begins and begins when light strikes the plant’s leaves.when light strikes the plant’s leaves.

To visually see photosynthesis taking place, click To visually see photosynthesis taking place, click here: here: http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/photohttp://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/photosynthesis/photosynthesis.htmlsynthesis/photosynthesis.html

VocabularyVocabulary Chlorophyll-Chlorophyll- A green substance which gives leaves A green substance which gives leaves

their color. Chlorophyll absorbs energy from their color. Chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight which plants use to make food.sunlight which plants use to make food.

Chloroplast-Chloroplast- A plastid that contains chlorophyll and A plastid that contains chlorophyll and is the site where photosynthesis and starch formation is the site where photosynthesis and starch formation occur.occur.

Photosynthesis-Photosynthesis- The formation of carbohydrates in The formation of carbohydrates in the chlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed the chlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed to light.to light.

Stomata-Stomata- A very small hole in the surface of a leaf. A very small hole in the surface of a leaf. Oxygen and carbon dioxide from the air enter through Oxygen and carbon dioxide from the air enter through the stomata; oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor the stomata; oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor leave through the stomata.leave through the stomata.

LIGHTS OUT ACTIVITY!

Discover what happens if you change thepatterns of a plant’s light source.

MATERIALS

Small house plant

Aluminum foil

Scissors

Paper clips.

Directions

1.) Get a houseplant from the back counter to use for the experiment.

2.) Cut out geometrical shapes (circle, square or triangle) out of the aluminum foil.

3.) Paperclip each shape on a different leaf.

Directions continued

4.) Place the houseplant near the window where it will get plenty of sunlight.

5.) After four days, we will remove the shapes from the leaves and make observations.

6.) Compare the areas on the leaf that were covered with the shape to other parts of the leaf.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) What has happened to the leaves?

3) What is the best environment for a house plant. Why?

2.) Describe the effects that the lack of sunshine

has on leaves.

Grade: 3rdTopic: PhotosynthesisIntended use: To introduce hands-on

activityComputer Resources Used: Powerpoint, InternetStandards: National Content Standard A: Science as InquiryMichigan Curriculum Framework:

Benchmark S1112.4: Compare and contrast food, energy and environmental needs of selectedorganisms

BACK UP PLANBACK UP PLAN

SHOW STUDENTS HOW TODO THE HANDS ON EXPERIMENT BY WAY OF DEMONSTRATION AND EXPLANATION WITHOUTTHE PPT PRESENTATION

CREDITS

http: //www.ktca.org/newtons/9/phytosy.html#photosynthesis

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/photosynthesis/photosynthesis.html

BY: Andrea Huver and Pam LackowskiBY: Andrea Huver and Pam Lackowski