HOW DO PLANTS MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD?

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how plants survive even though they do not eat food the way humans and animals do? Plants are able to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. But how exactly does this process happen?

In this WebQuest, you will become a “Plant Scientist” and explore reliable online resources to discover how plants make their own food. You will investigate the important ingredients needed for photosynthesis and find out what happens during this process.

Task

Your task is to investigate the process of photosynthesis and create a simple infographic or poster that explains how plants produce their own food.

Your final product should include:

The meaning of photosynthesis
The materials needed for photosynthesis
The role of sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and chlorophyll
The products of photosynthesis
A simple diagram showing the process
A short explanation of why photosynthesis is important to plants, animals, and humans

You may create your infographic using paper, PowerPoint, Canva, or another available tool.

Process

Follow these steps to complete your task:

Step 1 – Explore

Read or watch the provided resources about photosynthesis. Take note of the important terms and ideas that you encounter.

Step 2 – Investigate

Find answers to the following questions:

What is photosynthesis?
What materials does a plant need for photosynthesis?
What is the role of sunlight?
What is the role of chlorophyll?
What are the products of photosynthesis?
Why is photosynthesis important to living things?

Step 3 – Organize

Organize the information you gathered. You may use a concept map or a simple table to connect the materials needed with the products formed during photosynthesis.

Step 4 – Create

Create an infographic or poster showing the process of photosynthesis. Make sure that the information is accurate, understandable, and organized.

Step 5 – Share

Present your infographic to your classmates. Briefly explain how photosynthesis happens and why it is important.

Step 6 – Reflect

After completing your WebQuest, answer:

“What would happen to plants, animals, and humans if photosynthesis stopped?”

Evaluation

Total: 20 points

Criteria	Excellent (4)	Good (3)	Developing (2)	Beginning (1)
Accuracy of Content	Information is accurate and complete	Information is mostly accurate	Some information is inaccurate or missing	Information is mostly inaccurate or incomplete
Understanding of Photosynthesis	Clearly explains the process and its importance	Explains the process with minor gaps	Shows limited understanding	Shows little understanding
Organization	Ideas are very clear and well-organized	Ideas are generally organized	Some ideas are difficult to follow	Ideas are poorly organized
Visual Presentation	Infographic is creative, clear, and easy to understand	Infographic is clear and appropriate	Infographic needs more clarity	Infographic is difficult to understand
Use of Resources	Uses reliable resources effectively	Uses appropriate resources	Uses limited resources	Shows little evidence of using resources

Conclusion

Congratulations, Plant Scientists! Through this WebQuest, you explored how plants make their own food through photosynthesis. You learned that sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and chlorophyll play important roles in the process and that photosynthesis produces food for plants and oxygen that supports life.

This activity also showed how online resources can help you investigate questions, gather information, and create your own understanding of a scientific concept.

Before you finish, reflect on this question:

“How has your understanding of plants changed after completing this WebQuest?”

Write a short reflection about what you learned and how you can apply this knowledge to understand the importance of plants in our environment.

Credits

Khan Academy – Photosynthesis: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/photosynthesis-in-plants
Encyclopaedia Britannica – Photosynthesis: https://www.britannica.com/science/photosynthesis
National Geographic Education – Photosynthesis: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/photosynthesis/
Grade 8 Science textbook or other teacher-provided learning materials