BASIC 7E LESSON PLAN IN BIOLOGY

Topic/ Title PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Grade level Grade 6
Chapter 4 Interdependence Among Living Organisms and the
Environment; pp. 73-99
Sub Topic 4.4 Photosynthesis; p.87
Book Reference Science Form 2, Volume 1; Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd.2003; ISBN
983-59-1707-8
Time allotment 70-80 minutes
Teacher Science teacher / Hadjimar Dutosme Lubrico, Teacher I
Learning competency 1. The student will learn the interdependence among living
organisms, specifically between plants that produce oxygen
through photosynthesis, and other organisms like humans and
animals that require oxygen. Learners will learn to value
plants, as human life depends on the oxygen that is produced
by
plants.

2. The learner will also be involved in a small entrepreneurial

activity of planting various plants and harvesting the produce
to be sold to the school community. The procedures suggested
in the teaching section and the activities built around it will
imbibe in the learner a few entrepreneurial trait-skills like
observation, being a team player and task oriented. (This
project may need several weeks.)

Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Define ‘photosynthesis’.
2. State the factors required for photosynthesis.
3. Describe the interdependence among living organisms, between plants that produce
oxygen through photosynthesis, and other organisms like humans and animals that require
oxygen.
4. Explain the value of plants to humans.

1. ELICIT (Access prior knowledge) Tools/ materials

(The learner is already introduced to the Test paper for written quiz. The student
concepts of nutrition, interdependence of provides short answers.
plants and animals, air around us, sources of
energy, and cell as a basic unit of life.)

Teacher uses a short-written quiz to test

student’s previous knowledge. This method
of testing will elicit the knowledge of all
students, not just those who always have
ready answers.
Questions:
1. Name 2 animals that feed on plants only?
2. How do plants obtain energy?
3. What gas is given out when animals and
humans respire?
4. What gas is required by animals and
humans and taken in during respiration?
5. What happens to your breathing rate
when you have just completed a quick 100-
meter sprint?
6. Related to Q5, explain why do you
breathe in this manner?

2. ENGAGE (Get students to focus on the topic; short: Question or pictures)

Teacher asks students to list the different Pictures of indoor plants, and outdoor
types and numbers (if possible) of plants plants/trees Common indoor plants:
that they have in the garden and inside the
house. Students will say that there are many http://inhabitat.com/7-indoor-plants-that-
more growing plants in the garden, than in purify-the-air-around-you-naturally/song-
the house. of-india/

An activity is done on listing the types of

plants, and/or number of plants that students
have in their homes.

3. EXPLORE (Provide students with a common experience)

Teacher asks students how much sunlight is Readings:
in the open tropical garden, as compared to
the amount of light in the house. Tropical plants/ trees:
Students explore how many plants possess
green colored leaves, showing that they http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-
contain chlorophyll. plants/types-of-tropical-plants-pictures
Then, the teacher leads the learners to
realize that more plants are able to grow http://ntbg.org/sharing/featuredplants.php
well in a place that receives more sunlight.
Hence, sunlight is a requirement for
photosynthesis and healthy plant growth.
Almost 100% of plants have green leaves of
green portions on the leaves, although some
may have reddish/ orange pigments.

Key concept: The most common

photosynthetic pigment is chlorophyll; and
chlorophyll is another requirement for
photosynthesis.

4. EXPLAIN (Teach the concept. Should include interaction between teacher and students
The teacher explains that the word To show the need for light and carbon
photosynthesis is derived from 2 root dioxide, this is a suitable link,
words: photo meaning light, and synthesis
that means ‘putting together’ or chemically http://www.biotopics.co.uk/plants/psfac2.ht
combining. The teacher tells the learner ml
that the plant makes food by photosynthesis,
meaning that light is needed to make food. To show the need of chlorophyll, the
The teacher tells the learner that plants with demonstration or experiment may be used,
chlorophyll can make food only when light,
carbon dioxide, and water are present. http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resource
s/16899
Hence, photosynthesis is a process by which 0-An-experiment-to-show-chlorophyll-is-
living organisms like green plants (that necessary-
possess the chlorophyll pigment) for-plants-to-carry-out.aspx
manufacture glucose, by combining smaller
molecules (carbon dioxide and water). Formation of starch by photosynthesis is
The first product is glucose. Glucose is shown by using the iodine test.
converted to sucrose to be moved to storage No starch, photosynthesis did not occur
organs, and finally converted and stored as because of a lack in either of sunlight,
starch, usually in seeds or roots. Oxygen is chlorophyll or carbon dioxide.
released as a by-product.

Teacher leads the students into an

experiment mode. Teacher guides students
to make hypotheses that photosynthesis
requires carbon dioxide; that photosynthesis
requires light, and that
photosynthesis requires chlorophyll. Three
experiments were set up according to the
text book.
They are demonstrated by the teacher.
Alternatively, to show the need for light and The leaf shows the brown color of iodine.
carbon dioxide, this is
a suitable link,
Starch is formed, all 3 requirements are
http://www.biotopics.co.uk/plants/psfac2.ht present:
ml

As for the need of chlorophyll, a variegated

leaf is used. The demonstration or
experiment may be used,

http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resource
s/16899 The leaf shows a dark blue color.
0-An-experiment-to-show-chlorophyll-is-
necessary-
for-plants-to-carry-out.aspx

Teacher asks students to give examples of

variegated leaves (Coleus, Geranium).
Teacher may use suggested text book
demonstrations if desired. Teacher needs
to question and probe students’
understanding, to ensure that the concepts
are correctly formed in students’ minds.

5. ELABORATE (Students apply the information learned under ‘Explain’)

Teacher questions what application should

be made from the knowledge gained from
the explanations and demonstrations on
Photosynthesis.
Teacher asks: Why must potted house
plants be taken out to the garden, from time
to time?
When there are potted plants planted in the
house, the learner will take it outside where
there is more sunshine, from time to time.
Sunnier areas in the garden will be most
suitable for planting vegetables like
cucumber, four angled beans or long beans
(near fences).
Teacher asks: What plants can be safely
planted indoors, in the house or classroom?
Students are encouraged to discuss in
groups.
Teacher may give some hints, and provide
examples of plants that can grow easily in
the homes and gardens,
http://www.today.com/home/easiest-
indoor-
house-plants-won-t-die-you-t73006

Teacher asks: Name the plants that are

grown for food in tropical home gardens.
Plants that can be grown for food in tropical
home gardens
http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/tropic
al-vegetables.html

Key concept: Some plants can grow

healthily in pots.
They are quite hardy, and easy to grow.
They bear fruit in a short time. Teacher
suggests okra (ladies’ fingers), eggplant and
chilly because they can be harvested and
sold in a short time.
6. EVALUATE (How will you know the students have learned the concept?)
Throughout the lesson, the teacher is alert to Questioning, a written quiz.
student understanding (or lack of) of
concepts.

Teacher uses a short-written quiz. Students

should be able to:

1. What are the 2 root words in

Photosynthesis?
2. How do you define photosynthesis?
3. What are the requirements of
photosynthesis?
4. What are produced in photosynthesis?
5. What is the first sugar formed, in the
chloroplast?
6. What is sugar converted to in storage
organs like tubers of tapioca?
7. What gas is released by Photosynthesis?
8. Describe the interdependence among
living organisms, between plants that
produce oxygen through photosynthesis,
and other organisms like humans and
animals that require oxygen.
9. What reagent is used to test a leaf for
starch?
10. Give an example of a variegated leaf.
11. What advantage/s is/are there in
growing plants indoors?
12. Explain the value of plants to humans.

7. EXTEND (Deepen conceptual understanding through use in a new context.)

Entrepreneurship activity related to this lesson

The teacher will divide the students in groups of 3, 4 or 5 students (or as appropriate), and
involve them in buying seeds, collecting organic fertilizers and preparing a compost heap.
Some groups are in charge of planting, watering and caring for the plants. Other groups
are in charge of selling the produce at school to teachers, parents and neighbors. From the
activity, students will learn some entrepreneurship skills:
* The process of planting seeds and watching them grow into seedlings allows
students to do a lot of observing. They must watch the amount of water that is provided,
the amount of sunlight the plants get, and watch the growth. This process will hone
observation skills.
* The whole business of planting various types of plants that can be harvested for sale
will require students to be team-players, willing to share responsibilities.
* To reach the goal of having healthy plants that can bear fruit to be sold will require
students to improve focus and task-orientation.

Additional Information/ Reading/ Listed Reference

Common indoor plants:

http://inhabitat.com/7-indoor-plants-that-purify-the-air-around-you-naturally/song-of-india/

Tropical plants/ trees:

http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/types-of-tropical-plants-pictures
http://ntbg.org/sharing/featuredplants.php

To show the need for light and carbon dioxide,

http://www.biotopics.co.uk/plants/psfac2.html

To show the need of chlorophyll, http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/168990-

An-experiment-to-
show-chlorophyll-is-necessary-for-plants-to-carry-out.aspx

Examples of plants that can grow easily in the homes and gardens,
http://www.today.com/home/easiest-indoor-house-plants-won-t-die-you-t73006

Plants that can be grown for food in tropical home gardens

http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/tropical-vegetables.html