Photosynthesis

Key Stage 1

Photosynthesis is how plants make their own food.

Photosynthesis is a process that plants use make their own food using the sunlight.

Photosynthesis is what makes plants producers as they are able to make their own food.

Without sunlight plants cannot do photosynthesis.

Plants cannot survive for very long without sunlight or they will run out of food.

Photosynthesis is the process that takes place in the chloroplasts in cells which uses Carbon Dioxide and Water to produce Glucose and Oxygen using the energy transferred to the organism by sunlight.


The word equation for photosynthesis showing Carbon Dioxide and Water reacting together in the presence of light to produce Glucose and Oxygen.


The balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis showing 6 Carbon Dioxide and 6 Water molecules reacting together in the presence of light to produce 1 Glucose and 6 Oxygen molecules.

Plants have evolved an organ called a leaf which is specially adapted for photosynthesis.

Leaves are thin and wide to create a large surface area to collect light.

The leaf has Xylem vessels to supply water collected by the roots.

The leaf has air gaps to allow carbon dioxide and oxygen to flow through the leaf.

The leaf has a layer of palisade cells which have lots of chloroplasts inside for photosynthesis.

The leaf has guard cells and stomata which can open and close. This way if the leaf gets dehydrated the stomata will close and stop carbon dioxide getting in, stopping photosynthesis.