Photosynthesis

What Is Photosynthesis?

Word of the Week

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a green pigment used by plants, algae, and other photosynthesizing organisms to absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.


Most plants have the highest amount of chlorophyll in their leaves!

Species Spotlight

Yellow Palo Verde Tree

Parkinsonia microphylla

Yellow palo verde trees are one of the most common trees in the Sonoran Desert because of the incredible adaptations that help them survive in hot, dry environments. The name "palo verde" translates to "green stick." This may seem odd, but only until you take a close look at the tree. While palo verde trees do have green leaves like other plants, their trunk and branches are also green! Typical plants have most of their chlorophyll in their leaves, giving leaves a green color. Palo verde trees not only have chlorophyll in their leaves but also in their trunk and branches.


One challenge plants in the desert face is having small amounts of water and high temperatures. These two things together cause a lot of water vapor to escape from plants through tiny openings in their leaves (we call this process transpiration). Because transpiration occurs mostly in the leaves, many desert plants have small leaves to reduce water loss. Palo verde trees take things one step further! During the dry season, palo verde trees can drop their leaves entirely to greatly reduce transpiration. They use the chlorophyll in their trunk and branches to collect sunlight for photosynthesis! Then, in the rainy season, they can regrow their leaves to maximize energy production.

Conservation Corner

The Importance of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis sounds cool and all, but why do we care about it?


The answer to this is simple. Because without photosynthesis, humans nor any animals could survive. Photosynthesis takes carbon dioxide, a plentiful greenhouse gas, and turns it into oxygen, a gas that we need to survive. Additionally, because plants are at the base of almost every food web, without photosynthesis, plants could not survive and food webs around the world would collapse.


Regions that have a lot of plants produce more oxygen, so ecosystems like rainforests and boreal forests are critical to the survival of the planet. Protecting forests means protecting photosynthesis which means protecting the oxygen we all need.

BRAIN BLAST

Forests are incredibly important to the planet's survival, but forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate! Research the top 3 reasons forests are being cut down, burned, or converted. Then, make a list of what YOU can do to help protect forests.

Photosynthesis Labelling

Label the diagram below with what goes into photosynthesis and what comes out!

Photosynthesis Activity Printable

Photosynthesis Challenge

In this challenge, we are going to explore the importance of sunlight. You will need...


  • 3 plastic cups
  • Potting soil
  • Water
  • Seeds (almost any vegetable seed will do)
  • A sunny window
  • 2-3 weeks
  • A ruler
  • Worksheet attached below


Fill 3 plastic cups with soil and gently bury 2 seeds in each cup (follow instructions on the seed packet for how deep to bury). Place one cup in a sunny window, one cup about 10-ft from the window, and one cup in a dark corner or closet. Keep the soil of all 3 cups moist, but not sopping, while the plants begin to grow.


For the next 2-3 weeks, record the height of the plants in each cup on the worksheet below. Once the plants are 4 or more inches tall, you may complete the challenge. Bonus points if you plant your veggies in a garden and continue to watch them grow!

Record Your Observations

Glossary

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A gas produced by respiration (breathing) and by burning natural resources. CO2 is a greenhouse gas.

Carbon Sink

A region that absorbs a large amount of carbon dioxide. Forests and some parts of the ocean are considered carbon sinks.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a green pigment used by plants, algae, and other photosynthesizing organisms to absorb sunlight for photosynthesis. 

Energy

The ability to do work or cause change.

Greenhouse Effect

Heat from the sun trapped near the Earth's surface by harmful gases in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gas

A gas largely produced by burning nonrenewable resources that traps heat near the Earth's surface. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases are all greenhouse gases.

Leaf

A flattened plant structure that grows from the stem or branches. This is where most photosynthesis happens.

Oxygen (O2)

A gas produced during photosynthesis that is required for animal life.

Photosynthesis

The process used by plants and algae to change energy from the sun into sugar (energy) for the organism.

Plant

An organism that typically grows on land and uses photosynthesis to produce energy.

Root

The part of a plant that is typically underground and is used to absorb water and nutrients from the Earth.

Stem

The main, center structure of a plant that transports water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Stoma

A structure produced by mature plants after pollination that can grow into a new plant.

Transpiration

The process of water leaving a plant as vapor through tiny holes on the leaves and stems.

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