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Photosynthesis Primer

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Warm Up

Photosynthesis Warm-Up: What Do Plants Need?

Think about your favorite plant. What does it need to grow big and strong? List three things a plant needs to survive and thrive.

1.

2.

3.

Where do plants get their food or energy from? Do they eat like animals do? Explain your thinking.




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Lesson Plan

Photosynthesis Primer

Students will be able to identify the essential components plants need for survival and articulate how plants obtain energy, laying the groundwork for understanding photosynthesis.

Understanding what plants need to survive is fundamental to grasping the concept of photosynthesis and how energy flows through ecosystems. This lesson builds crucial prior knowledge.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through a warm-up, direct instruction, and guided discussion.

Materials

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

Review the Photosynthesis Warm Up and Photosynthesis Primer Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and ensure all links are working. Prepare the whiteboard or projector for display.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Do Plants Need?

5 minutes

Distribute the Photosynthesis Warm Up to students or display it on the board. Instruct students to complete the warm-up independently. Circulate to observe student responses and gauge prior knowledge. After a few minutes, bring the class back together and briefly discuss their answers, focusing on common themes and misconceptions. (e.g., "Many of you mentioned water and sunlight, great! What about where plants get their 'food'?")

Step 2

Introduction to Plant Needs

10 minutes

Present the Photosynthesis Primer Slide Deck, starting with the slide that introduces the key components plants need. Discuss each component: sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients. Emphasize that plants don't 'eat' in the same way animals do, but rather make their own food using these components.

Step 3

Guided Discussion: Energy Flow

10 minutes

Lead a guided discussion using the slide deck to explore the concept of energy flow. Ask questions like:

  • "Where does the energy for plants to grow come from?" (Sunlight)
  • "How do humans and animals get energy from plants?"
  • "What happens to the matter from water and carbon dioxide once the plant uses it?" Introduce the idea that photosynthesis is the process where plants convert light energy into chemical energy, and transform matter, setting the stage for the next lesson.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Preview

5 minutes

Briefly summarize the key takeaways: plants need sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients, and they use these to make their own food. Explain that in the next lesson, they will dive deeper into the process of photosynthesis itself.

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Slide Deck

Photosynthesis Primer: Plant Power!

What Makes a Plant Grow?

Have you ever wondered what makes plants green, tall, and full of life? Today, we're going to uncover the essential ingredients plants need to thrive!

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: what plants need to thrive. Ask them to think about their own experiences with plants.

Warm-Up: Your Plant Wisdom

What are 3 things a plant needs to survive and thrive?

Where do plants get their "food" or energy from? Do they eat like animals? Explain!

Display the warm-up questions. Give students a few minutes to complete it. Circulate and check for understanding and common answers.

Need #1: Sunny Energy!

Just like we need food for energy, plants need sunlight!

  • Sunlight provides the energy for plants.
  • It's like the fuel that powers their growth.

Introduce the first key need: Sunlight. Emphasize it's an energy source, not food itself. Ask students why they think sunlight is important.

Need #2: Thirsty Roots!

Water is crucial for plants, just like it is for us!

  • Plants absorb water through their roots.
  • Water helps transport important substances throughout the plant.

Discuss water as a vital component. Ask: "Where do plants get their water from?" and "What happens to a plant if it doesn't get enough water?"

Need #3: Air We Share!

Plants take in something from the air called carbon dioxide.

  • We breathe out carbon dioxide, and plants breathe it in!
  • It's a key ingredient for making their food.

Introduce carbon dioxide. Explain it's in the air around us. Ask: "Where does carbon dioxide come from?"

Need #4: Soil Snacks!

Plants also get nutrients (minerals) from the soil.

  • These are like vitamins for plants, helping them stay healthy.
  • They are not the plant's food, but they help the plant make food.

Explain nutrients (minerals) and their role. Clarify that these are different from "food" because the plant makes its food using all these ingredients.

Putting it All Together

So, what do plants need to make their own food?

  1. Sunlight (for energy)
  2. Water
  3. Carbon Dioxide
  4. Nutrients (from soil)

These ingredients allow plants to create what they need to grow!

Summarize the four key needs. Reiterate that plants don't eat; they make their own food. This is the core prerequisite concept.

Making Their Own Food

Plants are amazing chefs!

  • They use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food.
  • This process is how they get their energy and grow.
  • It's how energy flows into living things from the sun!

Introduce the idea of energy transformation. Briefly explain that plants convert light energy into chemical energy (their food). This leads into the next lesson on photosynthesis.

Why Does This Matter?

Plants are the foundation of nearly all life on Earth!

  • They provide food and oxygen.
  • Understanding how they make their food helps us understand how all living things get energy.

Next up: How exactly do they do it? (Photosynthesis!)

Conclude by reiterating the importance of plants and their role in providing energy for other living things. Set expectations for the next lesson.

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