Introduction to Photosynthesis
Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
Modeling Photosynthesis
Activity
Plants, algae, and other photosynthetic organisms get energy from
the sun to make their own food through the process of
photosynthesis. In this activity, you will be simulating photosynthesis
in various photosynthetic organisms, such as plants, algae, and
photosynthetic bacteria. You will work through each lab station and
collect the raw materials needed to complete the investigation. A
plastic bag will act as your photosynthetic organism.
Procedure
1.  Travel to each lab station and follow the directions on the
Station Card.
2.  Return to your seat and remove the contents of your bag. Put the resources you have
collected together to make energy.
3.  Pull cube combinations apart and put back together as needed. Some combinations may
become large.
4.  Connect 6 carbons + 6 oxygen + 12 hydrogen cubes together. This model represents glucose
which is the potential chemical energy in a plant. Add the photons of light to represent stored
energy.
5.  Your oxygen model will enter the atmosphere as a by-product from this process.
6.  The glucose will be stored in the bag (photosynthetic organism) until needed.
Answer the following in your lab journal:
1.  What are the raw materials needed from nature for an organism to carry on photosynthesis?
2.  What cell part was used for this process to take place?
3.  What are the results of photosynthesis?
4.  What happens to carbon in the process of photosynthesis?
5.  What is the path or flow of energy in the process of photosynthesis?
6.  How can the energy stored in the photosynthetic organism be used?
Unlike plants, animals are unable to make their own food through the process of photosynthesis.
Write a scientific explanation describing how a rabbit gets energy to live and grow. Include your
claim, evidence, and reasoning.
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Introduction to Photosynthesis
Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
Modeling Photosynthesis
Rubric for writing a scientific explanation
Points Awarded
2
1
0
Claim
Not applicable.
Makes an accurate
claim or answers the
question.
No claim, or does not
answer the question.
Evidence
Cites comparative
data, uses labels, and
addresses variables.
Cites some but not all
appropriate data or
does not use labels or
statistical analysis.
No evidence, or cites
changes, but does
not use data from
data table.
Reasoning
Cites the scientifically
accurate reason
using correct
vocabulary and
connects this to the
claim. Were able to
accurately show they
understood cause/
effect stimulus
response.
Cites a reason, but it
is inaccurate or does
not support the claim.
Reasoning does not
use scientific
terminology or uses it
inaccurately.
No reasoning or
restates the claim, but
offers no reasoning.
Rebuttal
Rebuttal provides
reasons for different
data in the class data
or outliers in the data.
Can also provide
relevance to the real
world or other uses
for the findings.
Rebuttal is not
connected to the
investigation or is not
accurate.
Does not offer a
rebuttal.
2