Standards
The WBI activity on photosynthesis addresses NGSS standard HS-LS1-5: Use a model
to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy and the
Illinois State Standard 12.11.07: Understand that chloroplast in plant cells captures useable
energy from sunlight and store it for future use by synthesizing sugar out of carbon dioxide and
water. Students will use interactive visualizations as well as a virtual lab.
Explanation of How the Activity Addresses Standards
From the Photosynthesis Virtual Lab the learner investigates which colors of the light
spectrum are important for plant growth. From the use of interactive visualizations from the
Photosynthesis Animation, students explore how light energy is transformed into chemical
energy and how the chemical energy is stored in glucose during photosynthesis.
How the activity engages students in considering the challenges
Description of the outline of the lessons or progression of the activity
This WBI activity required time is estimated at two hours.
I.
Overview of Photosynthesis
A Preview the overview from Photosynthetic Organisms
B. With the aid of a slide show complete the questions that accompany it. The research will
assist in the Photosynthesis Virtual Lab.
Assessment –Main ideas
1. What are the role of chloroplast and chlorophyll in photosynthesis?
2. Describe the stages of photosynthesis. Use the terms, light-dependent reactions, and light
independent reaction.
3. Explain the relationship between the light-dependent and the light- independent reactions.
Assessment - Critical Thinking
1. Suppose you wanted to develop a light to help increase plant growth. What characteristics
do the light have? Why?
2. Explain why photosynthesis is important for building the structure of plant cells.
3. Explain why the chemical equation of photosynthesis (below) is a highly simplified
representation of the process. How the equation is accurate? How it is inaccurate?
6CO2+ 6H20
C6H12O6 +6O2
Description of any other technological applications utilized through the WBI activity