1. Determining the Importance of Photosynthesis and Respiration
Lesson 5
Determining the Importance of Photosynthesis and Respiration

2. Next Generation Science/Common Core Standards Addressed!
MS‐LS1‐6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on tracing movement of matter and flow of energy.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include the biochemical mechanisms of photosynthesis.]
MS‐LS1‐7. Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on describing that molecules are broken apart and put back together and that in this process, energy is released.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include details of the chemical reactions for photosynthesis or respiration.]
WHST.6‐8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. (MS-LS1-6)

3. Agriculture, Food and natural resource standards addressed!
PS Apply knowledge of plant anatomy and the functions of plant structures to activities associated with plant systems.
Sample Measurement: The following sample measurement strands are provided to guide the development of measurable activities (at different levels of proficiency) to assess students’ attainment of knowledge and skills related to the above performance indicator. The topics represented by each strand are not all-encompassing.
PS a. Identify structures in a typical plant cell and summarize the function of plant cell organelles.

4. Student Learning Objectives
Explain photosynthesis and its importance.
Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis and explain it.
Explain how light and dark reactions differ.
Define respiration and explain why it is important.
List four factors that affect the rate of respiration.
Explain the importance of transpiration to plants.

5. Interest Approach
(With the lights off in the classroom)
Could you survive and continue to make energy if you were kept in the dark?
What effects would complete darkness have on other mammals?
What effects would complete darkness have on plants?

6. Calvin cycle Chlorophyll Dark reactions Glucose Light reactions
Terms
Calvin cycle
Chlorophyll
Dark reactions
Glucose
Light reactions
Mitochondria
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Stomata
Transpiration

7. What is photosynthesis?

8. What is Photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is the manufacture of food by plant cells.
Sugar is the major product of photosynthesis and provides energy for the plant.
Two phases of the photosynthesis process:
Energy gathering
Sugar making

9. 2 phases of photosynthesis
Energy gathering: plant leaves soak up sunlight.
Sugar making: Plants convert energy from sunlight into stored chemical energy.
Chemical energy rearranges carbon dioxide in the plant in the presence of chlorophyll to form sugar.
Glucose, a simple sugar, is formed.

10. Photosynthesis is the most important reaction on earth.
All life forms are dependent on the reaction.
Occurs in the chloroplasts
CO2 + light + chlorophyll + H2O C6H12O6 (glucose) + H2O + O2

12. Necessary for photosynthesis to occur
Chlorophyll - green colored substance in plants.
Light - leaves absorb necessary energy from the suns rays or artificial light.
Carbon Dioxide - enters the plant through structures called stomata in the leaves.
Carbon dioxide is split during photosynthesis.
Water - is also split during photosynthesis.

14. What does the chemical equation for photosynthesis mean?
Photosynthesis is a series of chemical reactions that yields the following products:
Carbohydrates in the form of sugars and starches.
Water.
Oxygen.

15. Photosynthesis Equation
Light + 6CO2 + 6H20
C6H12O6 + 6O2

16. Light and Dark Reactions
Photosynthesis is a series of complex reactions that have been divided into two major phases.
Light reactions
Dark reactions.

17. Light Reactions Light dependent reactions
Light allows energy to be released in the form of ATP which can be used by the plant in the splitting of water and the release of oxygen.
The pigments in chloroplasts absorb light energy to form NADPH and ATP to be used in the breakdown of CO2 in the dark reactions.

18. Dark Reaction Light independent reactions
A chemical known as RuBP (rubilose biphosphate) absorbs carbon.
Carbon dioxide and RuBP join together and go through a process called the Calvin cycle.

19. What is the Calvin cycle?

20. Calvin cycle
The Calvin cycle reduces carbon dioxide to manufacture carbohydrates.
The NADPH and ATP synthesis from the light reactions provide the energy needed to power the Calvin cycle.
One molecule of glucose is formed as a result of the Calvin cycle

21. Respiration
The process by which an organism provides its cells with oxygen so energy can be released from digested food.

22. Takes place in all living cells at all times.
Respiration
Takes place in all living cells at all times.
Takes place in the mitochondria of all cells.
Mitochondria are energy processing factories for plants.
“power plant of the cell”

23. Photosynthesis vs. Respiration
Respiration yields the opposite results as photosynthesis.
The process of photosynthesis absorbs energy, consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.
Respiration uses energy, consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide

24. Factors that affect the rate of respiration
Temperature
Oxygen
Soil conditions
Light

25. There is a direct relationship between respiration and temperature
As the temperature increases so does the rate of respiration.

26. Oxygen is required for respiration to take place.
As oxygen levels decrease so does the rate of respiration.

27. Soil Conditions
Soil containing large quantities of water cause the rate of respiration to decrease because of the lack of oxygen.

28. Light
The amount of energy produced by photosynthesis in low light conditions is reduced.
Therefore, the amount of energy available to conduct respiration is lower.

29. Transpiration
Transpiration in plants is the loss of water by evaporation through structures called stomata.
Stomata are pores or openings in the plant that allow for the exchange of water and other substances.
Transpiration in plants is similar to perspiration in humans.

31. Water movement in plants
Water molecules and transpiration together form a force that is essential for water movement through plants.
As water evaporates through the stomata of plant, it creates a pull that aids in the absorption of water by the roots.
(An analogy of using a straw to drink will help students to visualize this process.)

32. Transpiration is a vital link in the hydrologic cycle.
Ninety-nine percent of all water taken in by the plant is lost to transpiration.
Therefore, transpiration contributes significantly to the generation of rainfall.

33. Factors that affect the rate of transpiration
Wind Speed
Temperature
Humidity
Drought

34. There is direct relationship between wind speed and transpiration.
Higher wind speed creates higher transpiration rates

35. Temperature
As temperature increases so does the rate of transpiration because the plant uses transpiration as a mechanism to cool itself.
Once again there is a direct relationship between temperature and transpiration.

36. Humidity
Humidity influences the rate of transpiration because if the air is already saturated with water vapor, there will be a decrease in the rate of evaporation.

37. When the plants stomata are closed transpiration does not take place.
Drought
If the plant is experiencing drought conditions it will close the stomata to prevent needed water from escaping.
When the plants stomata are closed transpiration does not take place.

38. Why is photosynthesis important to plant life?
Review / Summary
Why is photosynthesis important to plant life?
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
How do light and dark reactions differ?

39. What is respiration and why is it important?
Review / Summary
What is respiration and why is it important?
What factors affect respiration?
What is transpiration and why is it important?

40. The End