How to Make a Flip Book on Photosynthesis

Create a flip book to teach students the photosynthesis process.

Plants use the process of photosynthesis to create food from the raw materials of water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. This process is an important part of life on planet earth because it allows plants to survive and produces the byproduct of oxygen which humans and animals need to survive. In order to more easily teach or learn how this process works, you can create a flip book to illustrate the individual steps. Photosynthesis flip books break down this process to a more manageable level.

Things You'll Need

• 8 sheets of paper, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches
• Crayon, marker or pencil
• Stapler

Instructions

1. Place eight sheets of 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch paper on a flat surface. Position the papers in the landscape position so the two longer sides are at the top and bottom. Write the word "Photosynthesis" across the top of the first page with a crayon, marker or pencil. Draw or glue a picture of a plant and the sun in the center of the page underneath the words. Set this page aside, face down.

2. Write the equation for photosynthesis in the center of a second piece of paper. Label the equation at the top of the page. The equation for photosynthesis is 6 H2O (water) + 6 CO2 (carbon dioxide) + sunlight = C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2 (oxygen). Place this page face down on top of the first page.

3. Draw or glue a picture of a plant with roots on the third piece of paper. Add a picture of water near the roots and an arrow pointing from the water to the roots to indicate that the roots are taking in the water. Label this page with the word "Water" at the top. Place this page face down on top of the second page.

4. Add a picture of the same plant with leaves in the center of the fourth piece of paper. Add circles to the bottom of the leaves and label them "Stomata." Draw arrows pointing to the leaves of the plant. Label this page "Carbon Dioxide" at the top and place it face down on the third piece of paper.

5. Draw a picture of the same plant on the fifth piece of paper. Draw a picture of a sun with rays above the plant. Add arrows from the sun to the plant. Label the fifth page "Sunlight" and place it face down on top of the fourth page.

6. Draw or glue a picture of a chloroplast cell on the sixth piece of paper. Write the words "Carbon Dioxide" and "Water" on the left side of the chloroplast cell. Draw an arrow from the words pointing to the chloroplast. Write the word "Sunlight" above the chloroplast cell with an arrow pointing from the word to the cell. Write the words "Glucose" and "Oxygen" on the right side of the chloroplast cell with an arrow pointing from the cell to the words. Label this page "Photosynthesis" at the top and place it face down on top of the fifth page.

7. Draw or glue a picture of the same plant on the seventh sheet of paper. Draw arrows from the leaves of the plant pointing outward into the space around the plant to show that the plant is releasing oxygen. Write the word "Oxygen" at the top of the page to label it and place it face down on top of the sixth page.

8. Leave the eight piece of paper blank and place it on top of the seventh piece of paper. Pick up the stack of papers and turn them over so the cover page is facing upward. Check to ensure that the papers are in order and then tap the bottom edges of the stack on a flat surface to make the edges even. Join the pages together by stapling the left side of the pages every two inches. Position the staples so they are 1/2 inch from edge of the papers.

References

• Techpress: Photosynthesis Detail
• Biology 4 Kids: Photosynthesis
• Online Biology Book: Photosynthesis