Photosynthesis

The Plant Kingdom

is diverse. Some plants have vascular systems; others don't. Often plants have seeds, but many don't. Not all plants have flowers.

At least one thing is true for all plants: Plants photosynthesize (yes, even carnivorous plants like the Venus Flycatcher).

Open Ended

What plant would you most like to give to your mother or another special person in your life?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a characteristic of all plants?

• Seeds

• Roots

• Flowers

• Use sunlight to synthesize food from water and carbon dioxide.

Multiple Choice

According to the cladogram, which of the following is not true.

• All plants have seeds.

• Gymnosperms have seeds.

• Angiosperms have seeds.

• The plant ancestor did not have seeds.

Photosynthesis

When plants (and sometimes other small organisms) use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

φωτοσύνθεση

• Greek for photosynthesis

• Photo comes from the Greek word for light.

• Synthesis is from the Greek for make.

• Photosynthesis means "make from light"

Poll

Are you capable of using light to make the energy you need to live?

• Yes! The dandelions and I are having lunch together in a few minutes.

• Only if I can't find anything better to eat.

• No, because my cells do not contain chloroplasts.

• When I grow up I will be able to. Not now.

Plants can, animals can't

photosynthesize.

One reason is that only plant cells have organelles (chloroplasts) that contain a chemical (chlorophyl) that helps convert the sun's energy into glucose.

Etymology bonus: chloros is Greek for green. Phyllos means leaf. What does chlorophyll mean?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following does the plant not need for photosynthesis.

• carbon dioxide

• vascular system

• water

• chlorophyl

• The sun

Multiple Choice

Why is the sun's energy such an important part of photosynthesis?

• The sun has chemicals that the plant needs

• The sun is able to break molecular bonds so that the different atoms can be used for photosynthesis.

• The sun is not actually needed.

• None of the above.

Open Ended

Give three ways that photosynthesis makes your life better.

Chlorophyll

Your independent work this week is an experiment related to chlorophyll and sunlight..

For this experiment , you need a living plant. To find out what kind of plant, use this link or another link provided in google classroom. https://identify.plantnet.org/ .

Explore Your Mother (Nature that is).

• Use apps, websites, & other resources to learn more about the plants around you.

• You could start a journal, recording the different plants that you encounter. Draw pictures! Take pictures!

• By next week, choose ONE Plant. You will be researching this plant, so choose something that you feel passionate about.

Venus Flycatchers

Eat insects to get vitamins that they need. But they still use photosynthesis to make food.

On the next slide, if you have time, feel free to watch a video of the flytrap at work.