Plants require sunlight, water, nutrients, and air to grow, utilizing photosynthesis to convert these resources into food. During this process, chlorophyll in leaves absorbs sunlight, combining carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose, which is essential for energy and growth. As a byproduct of photosynthesis, plants release oxygen, contributing to the carbon dioxide/oxygen cycle vital for life on Earth.

2. What Does a Plant Need to Grow?
sunlight
water nutrients
air
How does the
plant use
these
resources to
grow?

3. Photosynthesis
Food provides a source of energy for living things, enabling them to
grow and survive.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants can ‘make’ their own
food.

4. Leaves
The leaves on plants and
trees are the ‘food factories’.
The leaves are green
because they contain
chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is essential for
photosynthesis because it
allows the plant to absorb
and then use energy from
the sun.

5. Carbon Dioxide and Water
Plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air.
The CO2 is combined with water (H2O) using energy
absorbed from the sun.
When the carbon dioxide and water is combined, it
creates a sugar called glucose
(C6 H12 O6).

6. Glucose
The glucose is used for
respiration or converted
to a starch and stored.
After glucose is made, the
plant releases oxygen (O2)
back into the air.
Plants are called
‘producers’ because they
can produce their own
food.

7. The Carbon Dioxide/Oxygen
Cycle
Then, the plant releases oxygen as
‘waste’.
When you breathe in, you take in
oxygen.
When you breathe out, you release carbon dioxide.
A plant takes in carbon dioxide for
photosynthesis.

8. Can You Label the Parts of Photosynthesis?
sunlight water oxygen carbon dioxide glucose