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Photosynthesis and the Web: 2008 Educational Sites for Educators and StudentsOf course, all of the web sites discussed thus far can be used for educational purposes, but there are some which are primarily aimed towards students and educators. Also included is a list of sites that contain science experiments involving photosynthesis. Some books that may be useful are listed in the section on books and journals. K-12 Educational SitesOne of the best sites is the ASU Photosynthesis Center site. It contains an entire educational area for information about photosynthesis ranked by appropriate age groups (http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/learn.html). This site is maintained by one of us (LO) and is revised frequently. “Teaching Photosynthesis from the Internet” is an ongoing project by one of us (G) to collect educational materials about photosynthesis in one easily accessed place (http://www.life.uiuc.edu/govindjee/photoweb/WWWoverview.html). It is very much like a condensed version of this entire paper and is organized by grade level. Another project by one of the authors (G) lists photosynthesis educational links (http://www.life.uiuc.edu/govindjee/linksPSed.htm). Flying Turtle.org has a very good page that explains photosynthesis in a creative and easily understood manner. The entire site is quite humorous and we recommend it highly (http://www.ftexploring.com/photosyn/photosynth.html). Devens Gust at ASU has written an important essay, “Why Study Photosynthesis,” which instead of explaining the workings of photosynthesis, tells why it is so important to the world. He shows how students can use photosynthesis as a means to learn about many areas that may not seem to be linked to photosynthesis (http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/study.html). Newton’s Apple, the show that originally appeared on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) show has now moved to Twin Cities Public Television and has a good introduction to photosynthesis to young readers (http://www.newtonsapple.tv/TeacherGuide.php?id=915) and even the entire video from the original show (http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=915). John Cheeseman from UIUC is producing a line of educational software for the classroom (http://www.life.uiuc.edu/cheeseman/JC.software.html). A sample from the “National Science Education Standards” regarding photosynthesis may be found at (http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/photo6e.html). Science Made Simple, a service available by subscription has many items of interest to teachers, including the very popular “Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?” which is available as a free sample on their web site (http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html). Leeward Community College and Kapi’olani Community College have a nice site for Oxidation/Reduction which is important to all life processes, not just photosynthesis (http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/external/chemistry/). It also has a link to its section on photosynthesis equations (http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/external/chemistry/everyday_photosyn.html). Nelida Boreale provides a lesson plan for “Photosynthesis and Transpiration” for grades 5-8 (http://www.cbv.ns.ca/sstudies/science/sci1.html). Lesson Plans Involving PhotosynthesisLesson plans posted at various schools often disappear at the end of the academic year. Please let Larry Orr know if any lesson plan links are broken, moved, or if you know of any that are not listed. “Electron Flow in Photosynthesis” (http://www.zoo.utoronto.ca/able/volumes/vol-10/4-harris/4-harris.htm) “Purification v. Population: Green v. Gray The Plant Kingdom’s Impact on Air,” by Maureen Taylor-French, Quality, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute (http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/6/00.06.04.x.html) “How Do Plants Get Energy?” from Teacher’s Domain and the television station WGBH (http://www.teachersdomain.org/resources/tdc02/sci/life/oate/lp_plantfood/index.html) contains links to NOVA movies and other resources. Free registration is required. “Carbon: Is Too Much Of A Good Thing Bad?” by George Y. Durrett (grades 6-8) (http://www.lpb.org/education/classroom/itv/envirotacklebox/nttifiles/6gdCarbon.html) “Do Plants Need Sunlight?” from Reach Out, (grades 1-6) (http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/sunlight.html) Experiments on the WebThere are many web sites detailing experiments that can be carried out in the classroom to show various aspects of photosynthesis. Some of the sites offer very simple experiments, while others are somewhat more involved. The Russian space station Mir may be gone, but NASA has posted “Activity #1 Shuttle/Mir Seed Germination Activity” that explores hydroponics, photosynthesis and seed germination (http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/smore/teachers/act1.html) which duplicates some of the experiments done on Mir. Richard G. Steane has a number of experiments involving starch and Geraniums at the web site for “Experiments to Show the Factors Required in Photosynthesis (2) - Light and Carbon Dioxide” (http://www.biotopics.co.uk/plants/psfac2.html). The same site has a section with experiments on “Chlorophyll” in the plant Zebrina (http://www.biotopics.co.uk/plants/psfac1.html). C. Ford Morishita has a web site involving starch pictures on leaves, “Photosynthetic Pictures Are Worth More Than a Thousand Words” (http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/AEF/1996/morishita_pictures.html). Nelida Boreale has developed a lesson plan involving a simple experiment for “Photosynthesis and Transpiration” (http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Botany/BOT0046.html). The Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS) organization has a site on “The response of leaf discs from sun and shade plants to green light” (http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/worksheets/scotland/sunshade.htm). SAPS also has a site for “Photosynthesis... using algae wrapped in jelly balls” (http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/worksheets/ssheets/ssheet23.htm). It also provides instructions for ordering a “Photosynthesis Kit” (http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/workshop_photo.htm) A high school level lab on “Photosynthesis, Respiration, and the ATP-ADP Cycle” has been written by Clovis O. Price Jr. (http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9614.html) in which beans are used to represent the various atoms involved in the photosynthesis process and are pasted on posters. Models will also be made using carved sponges. Finally, students will use tennis balls to demonstrate the ATP-ADP cycle. Access Excellence has a couple of interesting experiments using Elodea and other organisms. James Linhares offers “A Constructivist Version of the Snail & Elodea Lab”, (http://www.accessexcellence.com/AE/AEC/AEF/1996/linhares_lab.html). A similar lab has been written by Bob Culler, “Mussel Your Way Through Photosynthesis”, which uses zebra mussels and Elodea in a project suitable for grades 9 & 10 (http://www.accessexcellence.com/AE/AEC/AEF/1995/culler_photo.html). There are several other sites with lab experiments that use the common aquarium plant Elodea. Although the procedures are very similar, the lessons are written with slightly different perspectives and age groups in mind. Michael Gregory at SUNY (State University of New York)-Clinton has experiments using Elodea to show photosynthesis using pH probes and chromatography [click here for link which is too long to print]. These experiments are intended for a school lab and cannot be done at home due to the equipment and solvents used. A lesson has been written by Karen F. Adams of Burnside Scholastic Academy in Chicago (http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9201.html); it involves counting bubbles of gas given off by Elodea. Another lab on Light Intensity and Photosynthesis (http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/1410/lab-B-04.html) measures pH using pH papers and is a simple enough for small classrooms or even home use. “Photosynthesis and Chromatography of Its Pigments” (http://www.science-projects.com/PhotosynthPigments.htm) is a relatively simple experiment involving paper chromatography.
Dr. Slicer prepares a virtual experiment on Neal Woodbury's site Neal Woodbury from ASU has set up a “Virtual Experiment” which uses mutant bacteria to discover which proteins are necessary for photosynthesis (Fig. 15). A virtual experiment is one in which the student follows a lab procedure on the computer screen rather than in a wet lab. Just like in the lab, the student has to correctly perform the parts of the experiment or it fails (http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/experiments/protein_exp/cover.htm). Another virtual web lab for “Elodea Photosynthesis” (http://oldmanhonda.com/Biology/WebLabs/Elodea/Elodea.html) allows students to perform a timed lab with temperature and NaHCO3 amounts. It is pretty neat, though sometimes slow, and requires that very specific instructions be followed — just like real science experiments. Mike Adams at the Chlamydomonas Teaching Center has posted several experiments suitable for science fair projects (http://149.152.32.229/~mikeadams/). Inexpensive kits that contain the algae required for the experiments can be purchased from Duke University via the Chlamydomonas Center (http://www.chlamy.org/strains/projects.html).
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Author Contact Information : Larry Orr Govindjee This article is based on a Review published |
