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Introduction
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Contents
1. What you can do
2. Water
3. Ecology
4. Amphibians
5. Environmental Issues
6. Keystone species
7. Get Wet!- Field Study Ideas
8. The Zoo Experience
9. Frogs & Friends
10. Case Studies
11. Resources
12. Glossary
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3.5 I LIVE FOR GREEN
(Level: 1 : 2 : 3 : 4 : 7 : 10 acad : 10 appl :: Photosynthesis)
Purpose: To understand the significance of plants in giving
us life, food, and clean air.
What You Need: large sheet of lined paper (or
blackboard) :: marker
What You Do:
- Ask students to list the needs of humans. Write this list on
the paper or blackboard in the left column. Try to include these
basic needs: air, water, food, shelter, and clothing.
- Ask students to list the needs of animals. Write this list
beside the human needs list, trying to place common needs beside
each other. Be sure to include air, water, food, and shelter.
What are the similar needs of both humans and animals? What are
the differences?
- Repeat the above for plants in the third column. Include air,
water, and food. Compare the needs of humans, animals, and
plants.
- Discuss the common need for food. Humans and animals eat meat
or vegetables for food. What do plants eat? They get their energy
from the sun. Then humans and animals eat plants for energy!
- Discuss the common need for air. Although humans and animals
both need air, explain that plants cannot use the air that humans
and animals use. Instead, they use "plant air" (carbon dioxide).
Simply explain that air is a mixture of gases, two of which are
oxygen (that we breathe), and carbon dioxide (that plants
breathe).
- On the board, write out the basic photosynthetic equation.
(Any one can be used, depending on the comprehension of the
students).
water + plant air + sun = food + air
water + carbon dioxide + light energy = food + oxygen
H2O + C02 + light energy =
C6H1206 (glucose) +
02
Review the equation several times, repeating the statement:
plants need water, plant air, and sun to make food and air.
Remind the students that plants use a component of air which is
different from the component of air that humans and animals
use.
Click here to see the list of activities for this unit.
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