Photosynthesis - A Survival Guide

The aim of this learning resource, which has been written by Debbie Eldridge, is to encourage teachers to take a new and hopefully refreshing look at look at the topic of photosynthesis The resource is aimed at pupils in the 11-14 age range. As well as practical ideas it includes a range of associated teaching resources designed to stimulate and enthuse pupils about the world of plants.

The resources have been written to help teachers deliver the topic in a variety of ways using a variety of teaching strategies. It includes a suggested teaching route but each section is separate and teachers can to pick and choose which activities they want to use.

For each section there is information for the teacher, worksheets and presentations for use with pupils and a technical guide when appropriate.

Introduction The different ways in which plants are important for mankind

• ppt Introduction

Activity 1 "When a plant gains mass, the atoms come from the carbon dioxide in the air and water"

• ppt 1 Where does the wood come from?

Activity 2 "The main food made by plants is carbohydrate"

• ppt 2 The story of photosynthesis?

Activity 3 "Plants make a range of different carbohydrates"

• ppt 3 Carbohydrates

"We make use of many carbohydrate plant products"

• ppt 3B Plant products

Activity 4 "Carbohydrates can be found in a range of plant organs"

• ppt 4 What sorts of carbohydrates do plants make?

Activity 5 "Carbon dioxide is one of the raw materials for photosynthesis"

• ppt 5 How can we show that the plant uses up carbon dioxide?
• ppt 5B Matching cards

Activity 6 "Carbon dioxide uptake varies at different times of day"

Activity 7 "We can observe the change in carbon dioxide uptake with different environmental conditions"

• ppt 7 Investigating photosynthesis in a broad bean plant

Activity 8 "The rate of oxygen release from a plant indicates photosynthetic rate"

• ppt 8 Measuring photosynthesis by oxygen evolution

Activity 9 "The splitting of water using light energy has released oxygen which built up in the atmosphere.
This has allowed higher life forms to evolve."

• ppt 9 Early earth

Activity 10 "Light energy is absorbed by the green pigment in chloroplasts"

• ppt 10 What are chloroplasts?

Activity 11 "Only areas of the plant with chloroplasts can make starch in photosynthesis"

• ppt 11 How can we show that only the green parts of the leaf produce starch in photosynthesis?

Activity 12 "To review the whole story of photosynthesis"