Photosynthesis Lesson Plan

Grade 9 Applied Science

By:
Allison Cunningham
Specific Expectations from Ontario Curriculum Document

B3.3 describe the complementary processes of cellular respiration and

photosynthesis with respect to the flow of energy and the cycling of matter within
ecosystems (e.g., carbon dioxide is a by-product of cellular respiration and is used
for photosynthesis, which produces oxygen needed for cellular respiration), and
explain how human activities can disrupt the balance achieved by these processes
(e.g., automobile use increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere;
planting trees reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere)

LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY Faculty of Education

DIRECT INSTRUCTION LESSON PLAN

Name: Allison Cunningham_______ Grade: ___9____ Date: October 3, 2012

Strand: Applied _____________ Topic: Photosynthesis ______________________

Learning Goals Evaluation

(General/Specific)(Knowledge, skills etc) How will you assess/evaluate?
Learners will be able to:
Product - Homework – see below
1. Have a very general idea of the Process
complementary processes of Performance – assess performance
photosynthesis and cellular during simulation exercise and during
respiration (from video) group discussion
2. Describe what photosynthesis
means. Provincial Standard Criteria Included
3. Describe what plants need for
photosynthesis and where plants get Rubric YES NO
energy, water and CO2 from.
4. Describe that photosynthesis Exemplar YES NO
produces oxygen and sugars.
5. Identify organelles called
chloroplast and understand that
photosynthesis takes place in
chloroplasts. Understand why
animals don’t have chloroplasts.
6. Understand what is meant by
chlorophyll.
7. Explain how human activities can
disrupt the balance achieved by
 photosynthesis and cellular
respiration – mainly in terms of
photosynthesis.

Teacher Materials Learner Materials

OERB interactive video (Resource ID : OERB interactive video – see description

ELO1342620) – teacher sets this up on the under Teacher Material
main computer/screen but allows students
to use program with wireless mouse or by Homework questions
having students come to main computer.

Copy of lesson plan – keep the teacher on

track

Powerpoint presentation

Instructions for photosynthesis macro

model (see attached) – including list of
materials

Materials for macro model

PROCEDURE
Introduction\Motivation Time

Welcome class. Smile, make eye contact, and welcome students by 15-20 min
name.

Display some wacky weird plants at the front of the class so everyone
can see them - because plants are cool!

Tell the class we will be talking about plants and some of their
interesting features - like how plants can make their own food and that
they produce the oxygen us humans need to live.

Have written on board a few critical questions for students to consider:

- What is photosynthesis?
- What do plants need for photosynthesis?
- What do plants produce?

Show interactive video, from OERB, on photosynthesis and cellular

respiration (Resource ID : ELO1342620) – this provides good
introduction to the two processes and how they relate to each other.
(Technology/Media based strategy)

 Have students play with video – ask for 3 volunteers to come up

to the computer and add cars and trees etc.
 Randomly assign students to groups of 5 (counting out 1-5
around classroom).
 Ask students to discuss, in their groups, what they saw happen
when more cars were added to the system and when more trees
were added to the system.
 Ask them to focus on the plants. What are the plants taking in
and emitting? What are the humans taking in and emitting?
 Ask for groups to volunteer to answer these questions.

Use this to jump into more details on photosynthesis. Explain to the

class that the focus of today’s lesson will be photosynthesis.

Sequence of Steps for Learning Min(s) Strategies to Match Sequence of Learning

1. Present Powerpoint 20 1. Direct Instruction Strategies - read

presentation. Define and follow along with Powerpoint
photosynthesis. Highlight what presentation presented by teacher
plants need for photosynthesis – (tell students they must have a way
SUNLIGHT, WATER, CO2. to record this information – taking
Highlight what plants produce – notes is a good idea. teacher will
OXYGEN, SUGAR. also post the slides on the course
website)
In presentation include a
description of chloroplasts.
Describe that they are organelles
only found in plants and they are
the site of photosynthesis.

2. Run through macro model of 25 2. Activity based Strategies-

photosynthesis – see attached Simulation
description. Use previously
selected groups of 5 students.

3. After simulation exercise is 5 3. Thinking Skills Strategies- concept

complete ask students, in their clarification
groups of 5, to talk about why
photosynthesis is important to
them and to other animals. Ask
each group to share one idea.

Recap\Review Min(s)

Homework – pass out sheet with various questions/definitions for 2

students to complete for next class.

Application: Accommodations? Modifications?

REFLECTION ON LESSON

SELF ASSESSMENT ASSOCIATE\ADVISOR ASSESSMENT

Strengths:

Areas for Growth:

Goals: