Photosynthesis: How Plants Make Food
Grade 5th Grade · Science · 45 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can describe how plants use sunlight, water, and air to make their own food.
Reading Passage
Plants: The Food Makers
Have you ever wondered how plants eat? Well, they don't eat like we do! Plants make their own food using a process called photosynthesis. It's like a plant's special recipe for survival!
To make food, plants need three main ingredients: sunlight, water, and air. Plants take in water through their roots, which act like straws. They also absorb carbon dioxide, a gas in the air, through tiny holes in their leaves. These holes are so small you can't see them without a microscope!
But the most important ingredient is sunlight. Plants have a green pigment called chlorophyll in their leaves. Chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight, kind of like a solar panel. Then, plants use this energy to mix water and carbon dioxide together. This mixing process creates sugar, which is the plant's food.
As plants make their food, they also release oxygen into the air. This oxygen is what we breathe! So, plants not only feed themselves but also help us by giving us the air we need to live. Isn't photosynthesis amazing?
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Plants don't eat like we do; they make their own food through a process called photosynthesis.
- 2
Plants need sunlight, water, and air (specifically carbon dioxide) to make their food.
- 3
Plants use chlorophyll to capture energy from sunlight and then release oxygen into the air.
Practice Questions
7 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Describe the three main ingredients plants need for photosynthesis and what the plant produces as a result.”
Complete Lesson Package
Get all 3 ready-to-use resources:
