On the Trails

PBS has produced an animated web site called Illuminating Photosynthesis.  This interactive web page can be used to teach this New York State Performance Indicator:

Students provide evidence that green plants make food and explain the significance of this process to other organisms.

and this Major Understanding:

Photosynthesis is carried on by green plants and other organisms containing chlorophyll. In this process, the Sun’s energy is converted into and stored as chemical energy in the form of a sugar. The quantity of sugar molecules increases in green plants during photosynthesis in the presence of sunlight.

Here are the highlights:

1.  If one clicks on The Cycle tab, an interactive demonstration is shown that illustrates how people and plants need each other.
2. Text on the Atomic Shuffle describes the Photosynthetic process in poetry format. Students will learn how the plant uses sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make glucose (sugar) for food.
3. The Three Puzzles tab produces three questions for students to ponder.  After a choice has been given, a rationale is presented to the students which extends the photosynthetic concept.