How Do Plants Get Food for Their Growth?

Content Standards

In this lesson, learners demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of plant parts and organelles involved in photosynthesis, including the role of chlorophyll,stomata, and the chemical processes that convert sunlight,water,and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.

Performance Standards

Students will be able to:

Differentiate between the roles of various plant parts (leaves, roots, stem) in the process of photosynthesis.
Analyze the importance of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide as essential raw materials for photosynthesis.
Demonstrate an understanding of how plants produce glucose and oxygen during photosynthesis.

Alignment Standards

Reference: NCERT Book Alignment

The lesson is aligned with the NCERT Grade 7 Science Book-Chapter 10: Life Processes In Plants, Section : 2 Photosynthesis

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Identify the key components and raw materials required for photosynthesis.
Explain the role of chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water in photosynthesis.
Describe the process of food synthesis in plants using both word and chemical equations.
Understand the significance of photosynthesis for all living organisms.
Relate the presence of starch in leaves to the occurrence of photosynthesis.
Distinguish between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition.

Prerequisites (Prior Knowledge)

Basic understanding of plant structures(roots,stems,leaves).
Knowledge of what living organisms need to survive (food,water,air).
Understanding of the concept of energy and its importance for life.
Familiarity with the terms producers and consumers in food chains.

Introduction

In this session, students will discover how plants make their own food through photosynthesis, learning why plants are called the ‘food factories’ of nature and understanding this process as the foundation of all life on Earth.

Timeline (40 Minutes)

Title	Approximate Duration	Procedure	Reference Material
Engage	5	“How do plants obtain energy without consuming other organisms?” “If humans need to eat to survive, how do plants survive without eating?” Activity: – Show two images: (1) A child eating food, (2) A green plant under sunlight. – Ask: “What do you notice?”, “Where do you think the plant gets its food from?”, “Do plants eat like us?” Prompt curiosity: “Let’s find out how plants cook their food without fire or gas!”	Slides
Explore	10	1.Show students colored leaves (green, red, purple). – Provide prompts: • What color is the leaf? • Can it absorb sunlight? • Do you think this leaf can make food? Why or why not? 2. Students discuss in pairs and share answers.	Slides
Explain	10	Teacher Explanation: 1. Define ‘Photosynthesis’ = Photo (light) + Synthesis (to make). 2. Introduce word and chemical equations: • Word: Carbon dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen • Balanced: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ 3. Ask: • Why is sunlight important for this process? • Where does each ingredient come from? • What if there was no chlorophyll?	Slides and Virtual Lab
Evaluate	10	Students will complete a Self-Evaluation task on LMS.	Virtual Lab
Extend	5	Scenario Thinking: “Imagine Earth had no plants. What would happen to life?” Discuss the significance of photosynthesis for all living organisms (food source, oxygen production).	Slides

How Do Plants Get Food for Their Growth?

Introduction

In this session, learners will discover how plants make their own food through photosynthesis, learning why plants are called the ‘food factories’ of nature and understanding this process as the foundation of all life on Earth.

Theory

Introduction: Do Plants Eat?

Have you ever wondered how plants get their food? Do they eat like us?

Actually, plants have a special way of making their own food, right inside their leaves! This process is called photosynthesis.

Plants are the producers of the food chain. They don’t need to eat other organisms—they make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. This process is the foundation of most life on Earth.

Leaves — The Food Factories

Leaves are like little green kitchens for plants. They prepare food using the ingredients sent from other parts of the plant:

Water and minerals are absorbed by the roots and travel up through special tubes called vessels.
Carbon dioxide from the air enters the leaves through tiny pores called stomata.
Sunlight is captured by a green pigment in the leaves called chlorophyll.

All of this happens mainly in the leaves, making them the “food factories” of the plants.

What Is Photosynthesis?

The word photosynthesis comes from:

Photo = Light
Synthesis = To make or combine

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food (glucose) using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.

Plants utilize solar energy to drive the process of photosynthesis, during which carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) are converted into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), with oxygen (O₂) released as a byproduct.

How It Works (Step by Step)?

Plants are able to carry out photosynthesis because their leaves act as “food factories.” Here’s a breakdown of the key components and their roles:

Water (H2O): Absorbed by the roots from the soil and transported up to the leaves through special tubes called vessels.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Enters the leaves from the air through tiny pores called stomata.
Sunlight: Captured by the chlorophyll in the leaves.
Chlorophyll: This green pigment, which gives leaves their color, converts the sunlight into chemical energy to drive the process.

This entire process produces glucose, a type of sugar that the plant uses for energy and growth, and releases oxygen.

Why is Photosynthesis Important?

Photosynthesis is a life-sustaining process on Earth. It is the number one source of oxygen in the atmosphere.

Here’s why:

It produces food for plants and for all animals (including us) that depend on plants.
Oxygen is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct of photosynthesis, which is essential for the respiration of most living organisms.
Photosynthesis captures solar energy and converts it into chemical energy stored in glucose, providing the primary energy source for nearly all life on Earth.

Do Only Green Leaves Photosynthesize?

No! Even red or purple leaves can perform photosynthesis. They still have chlorophyll, but it is hidden under other pigments like red or brown. Example: Think of a croton or red maple leaf—it looks colourful, but it still does the job!

Imagine a world without photosynthesis. There would be no food, no oxygen, and no life!

Vocabulary

This is the list of vocabulary terms used throughout the lesson.

Algae
Autotrophic
Carbohydrates
Chlorophyll
Cuscuta (Amarbel)
Guard Cells
Heterotrophic
Host (in context of parasitic plants)
Iodine test
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Parasite
Photosynthesis
Starch
Stomata (Singular: Stoma)
Synthesize
Vessels (Xylem & Phloem -though only “vessels” is explicitly in the text for water transport.)

How Do Plants Get Food for Their Growth?

Introduction

Introduction:

Welcome to the Virtual Leaf Anatomy & Photosynthesis Lab!

Explore a 3D leaf, zoom into its parts, and watch how water, CO₂, and sunlight turn into glucose while oxygen is released. Learn how photosynthesis works step by step and test your knowledge with a fun quiz at the end!

Key Features

Virtual 3D leaf anatomy tour (see stomata)
Visualize the process : water, CO₂, and sunlight into a virtual plant to initiate photosynthesis
Observe oxygen release and glucose formation
MCQ for engagement

Step-by-Step Procedure for VR Experience

Step 1: Observe the Plant in Action

Enter the VR lab and see the whole virtual plant.
Watch how it reacts to sunlight and water in real time, giving a sense of how living plants interact with their environment.

Step 2: Zoom into the Leaf

Closer view to focus on a single leaf.

Step 3: View of Leaf Cross-Section

Transition to a detailed cross-sectional view of the leaf.

Step 4: View of Xylem and Phloem

Identify xylem, which transports water from roots to leaves, and phloem, which transports food throughout the plant.

Step 5: View the Chloroplast and Thylakoids

Zoom further into cells to see chloroplasts, the site of photosynthesis.
Explore thylakoids within chloroplasts and see how sunlight energy is captured.
Understand the role of chlorophyll in converting light energy into chemical energy.

Step 6: View the Photosynthesis Process

Visualize the entire process.

Step 7: View the Final Equation

See the complete chemical equation for photosynthesis displayed:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O + sunlight → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Step 8: Take the Quiz

Complete a short quiz embedded in the VR lab.