NY Botanical Gardens:Middle Grades

Photosynthesis

Grade level: 8th grade

Learning Standard:

- S2d- Demonstrates understanding of matter, energy, and organization in living things.

- S5a- Frames questions to identify cause and effect; and identifies or controls variables.

- S5c- Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop descriptions, explanations or models; and makes appropriate adjustments and improvements.

- S5f- Works individually and in teams to collect and share information and ideas.

Time requirements: Approximately 30 minutes preparation time and 135 minutes class time.

Topics covered in this lesson: Photosynthesis

Pre- Visit:

a) Purpose- students will develop an experiment to find out what is needed for photosynthesis to occur.

b) Objectives-

Students will create an experiment to study how factors such as light and

water affect plant growth.

To understand how plants use sunlight to produce food.

c) Materials

Pea seeds.

Potting soil

Pots

Access to sunlight

d) Procedures

1) Have the students brainstorm what they think is needed for plants to grow.

2) Divide them into groups and assign a variable per group.

3) Ask them to write their predictions about their variables.

4) Ask them to come up with ideas to prove their predictions.

5) A week or so after the plants have begun to grow, and the results have

been collected, make a list with the class with the factors that were

absolutely necessary for plant growth.

6) Introduce the concept of photosynthesis.

e) Student learning prerequisites

Students must be familiar with the scientific method

Visit

Once in the botanical garden we will spend most of the time in the conservatory and the forest. Students will be asked to make observations about plant density and the types of plants that grow in the different

exhibits. They will be asked to explain in their journals why plants in certain environments need more water, or why there are few plants in the floor of the forest. They will also be asked to observe and explain the difference between the plants that are growing in the dark and the plants that are growing in the sun.

Post- Visit

Assessment- Students will be graded based on their lab reports and the observations they made on their visit to the botanical gardens.

Extensions and suggested homework assignments- Students will be asked to research photosynthesis on the Internet.

Possible questions that may be brought up:

1) What are the variables that affect photosynthesis?

2) Why is it the only a few plants are able to grow on the floor of the forests?

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