Plants use photosynthesis to produce their own food. The process involves leaves absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil. Chlorophyll in the leaves combines carbon dioxide and water using energy from sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen. The glucose is used by the plant for energy, and any excess is stored. Oxygen is released back into the air as a byproduct. This process sustains the carbon dioxide/oxygen cycle between plants and animals.

1. L.O: To learn the
process of
photosynthesis

4. What Does a Plant Need to Grow?
sunlight
water nutrients
air
How does the
plant use these
resources to
grow?
Learner profiles:
Thinker
Communicator

5. 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.

6. 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.

9. 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).

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Can You Label the Parts of Photosynthesis?
sunlight water oxygen carbon dioxide Gluc`ose