Photosynthesis Macro Model

Note: This exercise has been adapted from Dr. Tom Puks macro model. I do not have a copy of his instructions so Ive created my own based on the activity run through I was involved in with my OE3 class. The objective of this activity is to demonstrate the key components of photosynthesis in a visual, hands on manner for students to see and feel what is happening. Different characters are represented by students with coloured T-shirts (sun, air, soil, plant, and consumer). For this activity to run smoothly the teacher must have all equipment set up and ready to go! Equipment (multiply these numbers by the number of groups in class): - T-shirts - Blue (air), brown (soil), green (plant), yellow (sun), red (consumer/human) = 5 people - 5 buckets for each participant - 1 yellow ball labelled SUN LIGHT= energy from sun goes to plant - 1 blue ball labelled WATER goes to plant - 1 red ball labelled CO2 goes from human to air (blue t-shirt) to plant (green t-shirt) - 1 white ball labelled OXYGEN plant passes to air and then to human - 1 purple ball labelled SUGAR plant passes to human Do this exercise in groups of 5 so split class into groups accordingly. Use groups already formed at beginning of lesson. Each group gets a set of coloured shirts students put these shirts on and become certain characters of photosynthesis. Each character holds a bucket. Yellow shirt starts with yellow ball, Blue shirt starts with blue ball, Green shirt starts with white ball, Red shirt starts with red ball. Brown shirt doesnt start with a ball. Have groups stand in a circle with sun (yellow shirt) in the center. Explain what eat coloured T-shirt represents and what each coloured ball represents see above. Note: balls must be passed to appropriate character with a soft, underhand pass into the bucket. No hard throws allowed! Start with the sun (yellow shirt) shining light on the plant pass yellow ball to plant (green shirt). Air (blue shirt) passes water ball (blue) to soil (brown shirt), soil passes water ball to plant (green shirt). Human (red shirt) passes CO2 ball (red) to air (blue shirt), air passes CO2 ball to plant (green shirt). NOW PLANT HAS ALL THREE REQUIREMENTS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS Plant passes oxygen ball (white) to air (blue shirt), air passes oxygen ball to human (red shirt) Plant (green shirt) passes sugar ball (purple) to human (red shirt) human can eat plant as food. Circuit is complete once the human feeds on the plant and takes in oxygen. Do a few run throughs to get the hang of it and explain what is happening. Ask students to talk out loud what each ball represents and discuss where the balls should go. Communication is important in order for this exercise to run smoothly.