Photosynthesis
Teaching Ideas
Light-Dependent Reaction Skit
In order to teach all types of learners, it is important to incorporate various types of teaching activities. This activity will cater to your kinaesthetic learners. For this activity, assign students to play each role as described below. You can use whichever materials for this activity that you see fit. However, I used scrunched up yellow post-it notes for the photons, ping pong bolls with e- written on them for electrons, ping pong balls with H+ written on them for protons and post-it notes to indicate electron acceptors, water molecules, NADP+, the photosystems, and the Sun.
This activity might take a couple of run-throughs to get it right, however, your students will have a great time learning about the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis! This activity can be done with the class as a whole, or you could split the class into two groups and run through it twice.
The instructions for this demonstration can be seen below.
This activity might take a couple of run-throughs to get it right, however, your students will have a great time learning about the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis! This activity can be done with the class as a whole, or you could split the class into two groups and run through it twice.
The instructions for this demonstration can be seen below.
Online Photosynthesis Games
With the ever-changing technology, it is important that technology is embedded into the classroom. Games are exciting to students-- so why not let them play games in class! There are many interactive photosynthesis games on the Internet, so I have found a few that I have found particularly useful!
BioMan Biology
This interactive game goes through leaf anatomy, the light-dependent reactions, and the light-independent reactions all with manipulative animations.
It also has an embedded quiz for students to check their understanding.
This could be used as a method of teaching, or as a method to review important course concepts.
Try it here: www.biomanbio.com
Nova Photosynthesis Game
This game explores the process plants use to convert solar energy into chemical energy. This game stresses the importance of the relationship between plants and animals and how humans could not exist without plants.
This game would be an excellent starter for a discussion as to why plants are important.
Try it here: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ tdc02.sci.life.stru.methusweb/illuminating- photosynthesis/
Spongelab
This website has a TON of science teaching resources. It is not limited to photosynthesis, but rather has resources for any science topic.
This resource has images, games, animations, lesson plans, and quizzes. For photosynthesis, there are games for each stage of photosynthesis (such as the Light Reaction Game to the right) as well as countless useful videos, images, and animations. Explore more here: http://www.spongelab.com |
Parody Video
Music and film are very important in todays society, so why not have students write a song? Students can have the option to simply write the song, perform it for the class, or create a video like the one seen below.
Lim (2012)