Activities for Teaching the Technical Word Photosynthesis in Science
We all learned in science class that photosynthesis is the process by which plants transform sunlight into food. But perhaps when we were first introduced to the term, we thought we'd never master the word's pronunciation, much less its meaning. Give your students some engaging activities, including a simple experiment, to make it easy for them to understand what photosynthesis is and how it works.
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Get to Know the Word
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Ask students what they think of when they hear the word photosynthesis. Write the word in block capitals on thin cardboard, and distribute several of these word cards to small groups in the class. Provide the groups with scissors and ask them to carefully cut the word in half, between the second "o" and first "s." Explain that "photo" is derived from the Greek word for light and that "synthesis" is derived from the Greek word for "compose" or "put together." So photosynthesis literally means "putting together with light" (see Resources).
Play the Photosynthesis Game
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To teach students the photosynthesis formula (6 CO + 12 H2O + light = glucose + 6 O + 6 H2O), divide your class into groups and give each group a game board with the equation on it. Underneath the equation will be sets of circles representing the atoms in each molecule. Make a game spinner out of a square piece of cardboard, a push pin and a cardboard arrow. Divide the square piece of cardboard into equally sized sections; each section will represent a type of atom and the number of atoms gained. The groups take turns at the spinner and gain atoms to go on their game boards. When a group gains the required atoms, those students must rearrange them into the circles on the other side of the board to win the game (see Resources).
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Name Parts of Cells
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To give your class a better idea of the nature of chlorophyll and where it occurs in plants, let students look through a microscope at a section of a plant leaf. Point out to them the palisade cells, where light is collected by the plant and used to create energy. Next, give students an unlabelled diagram of a palisade cell and ask them to fill in the labels as you explain the function of each part of the cell. Explain to the class that chlorophyll is stored within chloroplasts suspended in the cell's cytoplasm.
Do a Practical Experiment
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Divide the class into small groups, and provide each group with three bean plants of identical size. The plants will receive the same amount of water but will be exposed to different amounts of light. The first plant will be kept on a windowsill in direct sunlight. The second plant will be kept in a shaded but well-lit area. The third plant will remain in a dark cupboard. Ask students to examine the plants each day for 14 days and report their findings to the class. This experiment will give students a practical demonstration of how necessary a good light source is to the respiration of plants.
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