Students conducted an experiment on photosynthesis. Prior to the experiement we studied vocabulary for key terms such as
- chlorophyll
- density
- photosynthesis
- vacuum
Students created a vocabulary wheel on each word. Students had to include the term, definition, and a picture example.
In the lab students learned how plants need carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight energy to create glucose (food) and oxygen. Students understood that if you were to vacuum out the carbon dioxide gas from spinach leafs in the lab that the leafs would sink. Plants cannot photosynthesize without carbon dioxide gas.
The following week students made connections between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Students filled in a diagram on each process. Then students compared both diagrams and answered the following questions:
- What differences do you notice about photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
- What similarities do you notice about photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
- What can you conclude about both processes and their relation to one another?
