Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Photosynthesis: Blinded by the Light
Delve into myths your students might hold about photosynthesis in this video. Help your students gain a better understanding of photosynthesis reactions and how plants use light energy for nutrition and growth.
Other
Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Biological Science
All about plants has information on plant parts--seeds, flowers, fruits, roots, and spores--and plant processes--seed dispersal, germination, pollination, and photosynthesis. You can also take a tour of this Los Angeles-based...
NBC
Nbc Learn: Chemistry of Green: Chlorophyll
In this video/lesson series you will learn the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis, and the role of pigments in making plants green (or making them appear green). Also in this collection: news stories from the archives of NBC News and...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Science in Focus: Energy: Energy in Food
A video workshop examining how the Sun provides energy for all living things beginning with the process of photosynthesis. Presents current scientific thinking about energy transfer through the food chain as well as ways to deal with...
Chem4kids
Chem4 Kids: Thermochemistry
This site provides a general overview of thermochemistry, the division of chemistry that deals with temperature in chemical reactions. Content explores what heat and cold really are, the heat and energy around you, and a bit about Lord...
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Environmental Chemistry: Carbon Cycle
Article explaining the importance of carbon as the basis for life, carbon dioxide's role in photosynthesis and respiration, carbon in the ocean and lithosphere, the impact of human activities on the carbon cycle, carbon that seems to be...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Ready for an Energy Makeover?
Sometimes these are changes that happen routinely in the natural world, and sometimes these are "makeovers" where human creations transform energy into a specific form that serves a specific need. Either way, we call these changes energy...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Cell Processes: Photosynthesis
Use this tutorial to get an overview of the process of photosynthesis.
Other
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Ctr.: Exploring Energy Transformations in Plants
This set of lessons has students investigate how plants obtain energy from different sources to support their growth and development. Students conduct investigations, make predictions, and construct scientific explanations of the...
Texas A&M University
Peer Curricula: Story Time: Melvin Calvin
A biography of Melvin Calvin, the chemist who figured out how photosynthesis works. The emphasis of this biography is on his early life, the development of his interest in science, and his education.
Other
The Plant Cell: Teaching Tools in Plant Biology: Why Study Plants?
Plants are essential for all life and development. Teach your students about this incredible lifeforce with this teaching guide, lecture notes, and PowerPoint presentation. [PDF]
NASA
Nasa Earth Observatory: Global Maps: Chlorophyll
Discover how chlorophyll is related to photosynthesis and watch a map evolve from July 2002 to October 2008 showing the varying levels of chlorophyll. Read about how important chlorophyll and photosynthesis are to our environment.
Other
Nasa: The Case of the Prize Winning Plants [Pdf]
This program uses a scenario with fictional detective characters to present plant growth to students. While the unit focuses on the basic needs and parts of plants, the topics of plant classification and adaptations, soil formation and...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Photosynthesis Summary
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What is photosynthesis? Students will review the process of photosynthesis, the light reaction, and the dark reaction (Calvin Cycle). Common misconceptions will be...
NASA
Nasa: Earth Observatory: The Carbon Cycle
Learn about the element carbon and its importance on the Earth's atmosphere and sustainability of life on the planet. Additionally, understand the role the carbon cycle plays in global climate change over time.
Other
Water on the Web
Water on the Web (WOW) is an advanced site allowing students to actively participate in data analysis from real research sites. Lesson plans on a range of topics are provided. There is also a tutorial for using Excel to graph WOW data.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Photosynthesis
This video segment from Interactive NOVA: "Earth" looks at photosynthesis, the chemical process plants use to make their own food.
Science & Plants for Schools
Science & Plants for Schools: Teaching Resources
A collection of teaching resources to help students explore plants! Resources investigate anatomy of plants, reproduction and life cycles, fruits, seeds, classification, photosynthesis, factors that affect plant growth, and respiration....
Other
University of Cincinnati: Cells and Organelles
An in-depth discussion of the different parts of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells as well as a thorough explanation of organelles within the cell. The text is better suited to high school and middle school. However, there is a picture of...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Connecting Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How do trees help you breathe? This activity covers the connection between cellular respiration and photosynthesis and identifies the products and reactants of each.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Carbon Cycle
Video talks about the carbon cycle and uses a computer as a metaphor to show how the cycle can be disrupted by climate change. [3:55] Includes a short quiz and a list of additional resources to explore.
OpenSciEd
Open Sci Ed: 7.4 Matter Cycling & Photosynthesis
This unit on matter cycling and photosynthesis has students investigating the idea that all food comes from plants.
OpenSciEd
Open Sci Ed: 7.4 Matter Cycling & Photosynthesis
Where does food come from and where does it go next? This unit helps students figure out that they can trace all food back to plants, including processed and synthetic food. They obtain and communicate information to explain how matter...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Measure Photosynthesis With Floating Leaves
In this activity, you will be able to observe the oxygen production in leaves by doing a floating leaf disk experiment. You can also find out how quickly plants produce oxygen, and what variables affect photosynthesis.