Teaching Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is one of my favorite topics to teach. I think this is because it’s a science phenomena that I find fascinating.

Here are some ideas you can use to teach photosynthesis:

-Each of the following activities can be found in your Photosynthesis Complete Lesson Set with all the Printables and instructions you need.

Intro Activity: Photosynthesis Factory

Students flow through three stations that take students through the input and output of photosynthesis set up to feel like a factory.

Informational Input:

Students will read the Informational text with key words to define. They will use an illustrated graphic organizer to process the information they read. A summary writing with key terms is another great way to process the new information with even more depth.

Anchor Chart:

This is another information input for students to learn some basic knowledge about photosynthesis. A good illustration with information is like having an infographic for students to see the information in a visual way.

Interactive Science Notebook:

For the input side, students will color and fill in the blank parts of the printable anchor chart to have their own copy for reference.

For the output side, students can use the comic strip template to create a comic strip of a leaf going through the process of photosynthesis. The output can be done after the lab/exploration activity.

Exploration:

1. The leaf exploration lab (with a leaf in a baggie of water) is great way to watch respiration in a leaf.

2. The Photosynthesis Escape Challenge is such a fun and interactive way to travel through the process of Photosynthesis as a spark of energy. Students will “play” this game and learn the many possible paths of input and output in the process.

Analyzing Data:

Now, it’s time for students to use what they have learned and think critically about the process of photosynthesis. Students will analyze a variety of situations and identify how leaf changes are related to chlorophyll.

Project:

Students will use the project guide pack to develop an experiment that will show what plants need to live and grow. This will give evidence that plants make their own food, and all they need is air, sunlight, and water.

CER Writing:

This is a great formative assessment because students will use the CER guide to make a claim answering the provided question and support that claim. This will show you what they know!

Science Starters:

Each day can start off with the question of the day that gets students thinking about the topic.

Vocabulary/Wordwall:

Vocabulary Activity Pages guide students through processing and using each of the three key terms.

Vocabulary flash cards are great for learning and practicing the key terms.

The WordWall Builder Chart is an interactive way to build the knowledge of each key term throughout the week.