In this module, you will learn:
- how plants make food using photosynthesis
- what is needed by the plants to make food, and what are the products
Resources to help you:
- Textbook: page 52 and 53
- Notebook: page 12 and 13
Watch the video
Learn about how the plants make food.
source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Ymc311XS8
You can change the speed to 0.75x to make it easier to listen.
Plants can make their own food using photosynthesis
Credit: @peypeyme via Twenty20
Photosynthesis
One of the main differences between plants and animals is that plants can make their own food but animals cannot.
Plants can make food through a process called photosynthesis. Plants can do photosynthesis because they have chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that is found in leaves.
How do plants photosynthesize?
The plant needs two ingredients to make food; water and carbon dioxide.
Along with the chlorophyll they have, they use the energy from the sun to change water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
Glucose is a sugar and oxygen is a byproduct of the process of photosynthesis. All living things require oxygen, including the plants that make them.
The glucose that is produced by the plant is then converted into starch to be stored in the leaves, roots, seeds, fruits or stems.
Photosynthesis happens at the leaves
Credit: @FootageStock via Envato Elements (Edited)
Word equation of Photosynthesis
The word equation of photosynthesis is:
How do plants get water and carbon dioxide?
The plants get water mostly from its roots. The root has tiny hair cells that has a finger-like structure that helps to increase the surface area for water absorption.
Carbon dioxide enters the leaves via the leaves through tiny openings (holes) called stomata. The stomata are found under the leaves.
How to test for starch in leaves?
You can change the speed to 0.75x to make it easier to listen.