How to Explain Photosynthesis

Green plants make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. It's a process that uses the sun's energy to process other materials into sugars that are usable to the plant. Here's how to explain what photosynthesis is and how it works.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Two identical green plants
• Brown paper sack
• Water
• Science journal

1. Write out the formula for photosynthesis. Visit the Estrella Mountain Community College's website on photosynthesis for a copy of the formula. The formula is as follows: six water molecules plus six carbon dioxide molecules equal one glucose molecule plus six oxygen molecules.
2. Define each part of the photosynthesis formula. It takes six water and carbon dioxide molecules to make just one glucose molecule and six oxygen molecules. A plant's chloroplasts make chlorophyll that helps the plant convert the carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Chlorophyll is a pigment that gives the plant its green color and, along with sunlight, helps convert water and carbon dioxide. The plant uses the glucose, a sugar, as its main food source.
3. Experiment to show photosynthesis working. To show that photosynthesis needs sunlight to keep the plant alive, you'll need two plants of similar size, a brown paper sack large enough to fit over one of the plants, and some water. Place the brown paper sack over one of the plants. Place the plants by a sunny window where they both receive the same amount of sun each day.
4. Check and water each plant once a day for a week. Record your observations in a science journal or a notebook. You'll see that the covered plant won't look as healthy as the uncovered plant. It's because the process of photosynthesis needs sunlight to work.
5. Draw pictures, charts and other illustrations to help reinforce photosynthesis concepts. Make a physical representation of photosynthesis using pictures and diagrams along with the formula.
6. Create glossary of photosynthesis words. Include the following study words: chlorophyll, glucose, carbon dioxide, stomata and chloroplasts. Define these words on index cards to help remember what each does in the photosynthesis process.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to keep things simple for beginners or for those who don't need to know too many details.