The Working Leaf: When Does a Leaf Make Food and When Does It Use It?
Sim Lesson
Students use The Working Leaf simulation to watch a leaf across day and night, seeing that photosynthesis makes glucose in the light while respiration uses glucose around the clock. Lesson Purpose Students often think plants only photosynthesize and never respire, or that they respire only at night. Watching a full day shows sugar is made in the light and used up all the time.
A plant does not eat; it makes its own food using sunlight. But a plant also needs to use that food to live, even at night. When does a leaf make sugar, and when does it use it up? In this lesson, you will use The Working Leaf simulation to watch a leaf through day and night.
Topics and standards: Science, Biology, Life Science, Simulation, Carbon Cycle, MS-LS1-6, Grades 6-8, Forms of Life, Cells & Life Processes, SC.8.L.18.1, TEKS Science 8.6.E, 7-LS1-7, 3.1.6-8.F