Biology, material cycles and energy, photosynthesis: the reactants…
Biology, material cycles and energy, photosynthesis: the reactants in, and products of, photosynthesis, and a word summary for photosynthesis; the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to use sunlight in photosynthesis to build organic molecules that are an essential energy store and to maintain levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (The adaptations of leaves are not taught here.)
The National curriculum in England: science programmes of study, Key Stages 1–3 outcome for Years 7–9 says: “Biology, material cycles and energy, photosynthesis: the reactants in, and products of, photosynthesis, and a word summary for photosynthesis; the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to use sunlight in photosynthesis to build organic molecules that are an essential energy store and to maintain levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (The adaptations of leaves are not taught here.)” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson.
How Plants Make Food: Photosynthesis and Respiration Grades 6–8 · partly supports this outcome
Where does a tree's mass come from, what happens to the sugar a plant makes, and how does the Sun's energy run a whole ecosystem? Three no-materials lessons with a 400-year-old willow experiment, printed atom cards and a carbon-atom role-play.
- Where does a tree's mass come from? 50–60 min
Teams work through Jan Baptist van Helmont's real willow data and five modern evidence cards to settle where 74 kg of new tree came from. They argue from the numbers to the modern answer, carbon dioxide from the air, and write the word and balanced equations for photosynthesis.
- How does energy from the Sun move through a whole ecosystem? 50–60 min
Every student becomes a carbon atom and travels between four stations, air, plants, animals and decomposers, drawing printed cards that say what happens next. The class tallies the journeys, then follows energy through a food chain, and explains why carbon goes round and round while energy passes through once.
More England Years 7–9 science outcomes we teach
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