Expert Group A: Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food from the substances available in their
surroundings using light (photosynthesis) or chemical energy (chemosynthesis). Heterotrophs
cannot synthesize their own food and rely on other organisms -- both plants and animals -- for
nutrition. Technically, the definition is that autotrophs obtain carbon from inorganic sources like
carbon dioxide (CO2) while heterotrophs get their reduced carbon from other organisms.
Autotrophs are usually plants; they are also called "self feeders" or "primary producers".
1. STOP! On your graphic organizer, compare and contrast autotrophs and heterotrophs.
Energy comes in many different forms, including kinetic energy, light energy, and chemical
energy. Light energy can travel, such as a beam of sunlight. However, chemical energy is stored
in the bonds between atoms.
2. STOP! On your graphic organizer, fill out the table about the different kinds of energy
according to what you have just read.
Energy Production
Autotrophs produce their own energy by one of the following two methods:

Photosynthesis - Photoautotrophs use energy from sun to convert water from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air
into glucose. Glucose provides energy to plants and is used to make cellulose which is used to build cell walls. E.g.
Plants, algae, phytoplankton and some bacteria. Carnivorous plants like pitcher plant use photosynthesis for energy
production but depend on other organisms for other nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Hence,
these plants are basically autotrophs.

Chemosynthesis - Chemoautotrophs use energy from chemical reactions to make food. The chemical reactions are
usually between hydrogen sulfide/methane with oxygen. Carbon dioxide is the main source of carbon for
Chemoautotrophs. E.g. Bacteria found inside active volcano, hydrothermal vents in sea floor, hot water springs.
Heterotrophs survive by feeding on organic matter produced by or available in other organisms. There are two types of
heterotrophs:

Photoheterotroph – These heterotrophs use light for energy but cannot use carbon dioxide as their carbon source.
They get their carbon from compounds such as carbohydrates, fatty acids and alcohol. E.g. purple non-sulfur
bacteria, green-non sulfur bacteria and heliobacteria.

Chemoheterotroph – Heterotrophs that get their energy by oxidation of preformed organic compounds, i.e. by eating
other organisms either dead or alive. E.g. animals, fungi, bacteria and almost all pathogens.
3. STOP! On your graphic organizer, define photoautotroph, chemoautotroph,
photoheterotroph, and chemoheterotroph.
Expert Group B: Photosynthesis
Instructions: Read and respond to the prompts as you go. Be sure to go in order.
Do your BEST and ask for clarification if needed.
You will be explaining this to other people!
Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction that transforms energy and matter. The organisms
that can do photosynthesis are called producers, they provide energy and matter for the rest of
the food web. In plants, photosynthesis occurs within leaf cells (see image below), in special
structures called chloroplasts.
*Leaf cells
*Cells contain chloroplasts
1. STOP! On your graphic organizer, define “producer” and “chloroplast”
Photosynthesis, like all chemical reactions, takes in starting materials, breaks them into
smaller parts, and rearranges their parts into NEW products.
*The starting materials that go into photosynthesis are Carbon Dioxide(CO2) and Water(H2O).
*The final products that come out of photosynthesis are Glucose (C6H12O6) and Oxygen (O2).
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) + Water (H2O)
Glucose (C6H12O6) + Oxygen (O2)
2. STOP! On your concept map, draw two arrows showing each starting material going INTO
photosynthesis, and two arrows showing the final products coming OUT of photosynthesis.
Expert Group C: Cellular Respiration
Instructions: Read and respond to the prompts as you go. Be sure to go in order.
Do your BEST and ask for clarification if needed.
You will be explaining this to other people!
Cellular respiration is a chemical reaction that transforms energy and matter. All living
things, including plants and animals, need to do cellular respiration. Respiration occurs in every
single cell, within structures called mitochondria.
1. STOP! On your graphic organizer, write the definition of “mitochondria” and make a note about
which kinds of organisms do cellular respiration.
Cellular respiration, like all chemical reactions, takes in starting materials, breaks them into
smaller parts, and rearranges their parts into NEW products.
*The starting materials that go into respiration are Glucose (C6H12O6), Oxygen (O2), ADP
(Adenosine Diphosphate), and Pi (Inorganic Phosphate)
*The final products that come out of respiration are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Water (H2O), and ATP
(Adenosine Triphosphate).
Glucose(C6H12O6) + Oxygen(O2) + ADP + Pi
Carbon Dioxide(CO2) + Water(H2O) + ATP
2. STOP! On your concept map, draw two arrows showing each starting material going INTO
respiration, and two arrows showing the final products coming OUT of respiration.
Expert Group D: Properties of Light
All electromagnetic radiation is light, but we can only see a small portion of this radiation—the portion
we call visible light. Cone-shaped cells in our eyes act as receivers tuned to the wavelengths in this
narrow band of the spectrum. Other portions of the spectrum have wavelengths too large or too small
and energetic for the biological limitations of our perception.
As the full spectrum of visible light travels through a prism, the wavelengths separate into the colors of
the rainbow because each color is a different wavelength. Violet has the shortest wavelength, at around
380 nanometers, and red has the longest wavelength, at around 700 nanometers.
1. STOP! On your graphic organizer, describe the relationship between wavelength and colors of
light.
As objects grow hotter, they radiate energy dominated by shorter wavelengths, changing color before
our eyes. A flame on a blow torch shifts from reddish to bluish in color as it is adjusted to burn hotter. In
the same way, the color of stars tells scientists about their temperature.
Our Sun produces more yellow light than any other color because its surface temperature is 5,500°C. If
the Sun's surface were cooler—say 3,000°C—it would look reddish, like the star Betelgeuse. If the Sun
were hotter—say, 12,000°C—it would look blue, like the star Rigel. Since temperature is a measure of
the average kinetic energy of molecules, the higher the temperature, the more energy the wavelength
has.
2. STOP! On your graphic organizer, define the relationship between colors of light and
temperature/energy.
Jigsaw Group Task: Putting it All Together
TASK: Each of you is now an “expert” on some aspect of Energy in Living Things!
Now, you need to guide your group members toward a complete understanding of
your part of the jigsaw. The graphic organizer and concept map will guide your
conversation with your group.
PART 1: When it is your turn to share,
1. Discuss the BIG IDEA of your topic.
2. Guide your group members through your section of the graphic organizer. DO
NOT let them copy your answers, but rather help them understand by
EXLPAINING.
3. Guide your group members through your part of the concept map. DO NOT let
them copy your answers, but rather help them understand by EXLPAINING.
4. Allow your group members to ask clarifying questions. Use the discussion
sentence starters to help EVERYONE come to an understanding.
PART 2: After EVERY group member has shared their knowledge, as a group
complete the analysis questions. Use the discussion sentence starters to help
EVERYONE come to an understanding.