Photosynthesis

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Organisms & Life Processes|Ages 11—12|ID: mt_zM5vu31jgl

Explain photosynthesis as the process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, and describe how mineral nutrients are absorbed through roots

Mastery Evidence

Writes and explains the word equation for photosynthesis
Identifies the raw materials needed and the products made
Explains the role of chlorophyll in capturing light energy
Distinguishes between what plants get from the air (CO₂), soil (water and minerals), and light

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] was asked why plants don't need to eat food like animals do, could they explain how plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide — and write the equation?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

MS-LS1-6Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle Schoolcodes only

Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.

KS3.Sci.Bio.Nutrition.6The national curriculum in England

Photosynthesis and plant nutrition

plants making carbohydrates in their leaves by photosynthesis and gaining mineral nutrients and water through their roots

Science · KS3

Prerequisites3

Deep-Sea Life Without Sunlight
softAges 11—13
Plant Cells vs Animal Cells
hardAges 11—12
What Plants Need to Thrive
hardAges 7—8

Show full prerequisite tree

Deep-Sea Life Without Sunlight soft
KS3 photosynthesis provides the contrast needed to understand chemosynthesis as an alternative energy pathway
- Deep-Sea Creatures hard
  Chemosynthesis as energy base of vent communities depends on deep sea and bioluminescence
  - Ocean Animal Adaptations hard
    Deep sea adaptations extend general adaptation concept to extreme conditions
    - What Ocean Animals Need hard
      Adaptations explain how animals meet their needs in their environment
      - What Is the Ocean? soft
        Ocean animal needs are contextualised by knowing what the ocean is
    - Ocean Animal Variety hard
      Adaptations concept requires knowing the variety of ocean animals
  - Ocean Depth Zones hard
    Deep sea life builds on knowing ocean zones, especially the midnight zone
    - What Is the Ocean? hard
      Ocean zones require knowing the ocean is deep and vast
    - Ocean Animal Variety hard
      Understanding zones requires knowing ocean has diverse life at different depths
  - The Ocean Floor soft
    Deep sea life lives on the ocean floor; terrain knowledge enriches understanding
    - What Is the Ocean? hard
      Ocean floor concept requires knowing the ocean is vast and deep
    - Ocean Depth Zones soft
      Ocean floor is the bottom of the deepest zone; zone knowledge enriches it
      - What Is the Ocean? hard
        Ocean zones require knowing the ocean is deep and vast
      - Ocean Animal Variety hard
        Understanding zones requires knowing ocean has diverse life at different depths
Plant Cells vs Animal Cells hard
Photosynthesis requires knowing about chloroplasts, which are unique to plant cells
- Parts of Plant and Animal Cells hard
  Comparing plant and animal cells requires knowing the components found in each
  - Cells Under the Microscope hard
    Understanding cell components requires first knowing that cells are the fundamental unit of life
What Plants Need to Thrive hard
KS3 photosynthesis equation and process extends KS2 understanding that plants need light and water to grow
- What Plants Need to Grow hard
  Must know basic plant needs before exploring how needs vary between plants
  - What Living Things Need hard
    Must know basic survival needs before investigating specific plant growth conditions
    - Common Plants & Trees soft
      Knowing plants helps understand what they need
    - Living Things Vocabulary soft
      Describing what plants and animals need to survive uses life processes vocabulary: nutrition, growth, sensitivity
    - Naming Common Animals soft
      Knowing animals helps understand what they need

Unlocks1

The Carbon Cycle
hardAges 12—13