The basic principles of photosynthesis can be tricky for some students in middle school, especially when it comes to chemical equations. Green plants use carbon dioxide and water and by the magic of light energy and chlorophyll create glucose through a chemical reaction. In my general science class, I don’t go into detail about light-dependent reactions and light-independent reactions. I focus on the energy flow (sun, plants, animals) during photosynthesis. How water molecules and carbon dioxide from the air are rearranged to produce glucose and the all-important (for us) oxygen. I leave the details to high school!
My Photosynthesis-In-A-Bag Activity is a great way to make these abstract concepts come to life. It’s already differentiated. You can use the word equation or the chemical equation to run the activity. It’s a comprehensive resource and is great for photosynthesis review.
The essential questions on photosynthesis are covered in a practical, hands-on way. What molecules are needed, where does photosynthesis take place, and what is created. The main components of photosynthesis are comprehensively covered. This photosynthesis worksheet is intended as a review worksheet. Your students are going to love this hands-on, high-energy activity. It will help them consolidate their understanding of photosynthesis.
How to Run the Activity
Students write the chemical processes at the top of their handout. This could be either the word equation or the chemical equation.
Get them to cut out their own molecules, far less prep for you. No-prep or low-prep is the name of the game when it comes to these types of activities.
They’ll need a Ziploc or plastic bag each (their ‘chloroplast’), which they’ll attach to their journal or interactive notebooks.
I’ve included two pockets where they can store glucose; one is denim, and the other is a dotted outline they can color in. The pockets model stored chemical energy.
Students model the process of photosynthesis by moving molecules from the air and soil into the chloroplast, then swapping them for glucose and oxygen.
When they create a glucose molecule, they store it in their pocket. They note how many glucose molecules they’ve made on the glucose thermometer. When they’ve made 5 glucose molecules, their plant can grow!
They will also show the oxygen molecules moving out from the leaf. The resource includes a reflection page with different questions on the activity (with answer slides page), a rubric as well as a differentiated version. This resource works over a variety of grades as it’s differentiated. Perfect for 5th grade using the word equation and 8th grade using the chemical equation. Students can use the activity to model photosynthesis color molecules, which helps their critical thinking. You can even use this as one of your sub plans!
There is another resource you may be interested in where cellular respiration / photosynthesis are both included. This gives the students a comprehensive overview of how both processes are interlinked in everyday life. And I also have a cellular respiration review activity game using Skittles! Perfect as a cellular energy unit review activity.
I hope you enjoy these activities!