Clil 4 Steam

Subject taught
- Biology

Language Skills Developed
- Interaction
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing

Transferable/Scientific Skills Developed
Students will develop note-taking skills, self-motivation, analytical skills, critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills.

Students will be able to identify the factors that influence photosynthesis and its role in our lives.

Description
There are some teaching resources:
1. The activity is an interactive digital true/false activity on photosynthesis, allowing students to learn definitions, processes and main characteristics of photosynthesis,

2. The activity is an interactive wheel aimed at exploring and learning key vocabulary related to photosynthesis.

3. The Chlorophyll photosynthesis ebook is aimed at delivering the basic concepts of this topic in a colourful and simple way.

4. The content of the scientific text is clearly illustrated and explained in a video and a diagram. The diagram and the accompanying video are of high quality. The diagram of photosynthesis shows how water, light, and carbon dioxide are absorbed by a plant to produce oxygen, sugars, and more carbon dioxide. The video focuses on the location, importance, and mechanisms of photosynthesis as well as the roles of chloroplasts, chlorophyll, grana, thylakoid membranes, and stroma in photosynthesis.

5. The resource provides interesting self-directed learning. The strengths of the web site lie in the clarity of explanations and its quiz. There are: - clear accessible explanations - embedded dictionary with clear and easy explanations - examples illustrated by pictures - a quiz

6. Students will expand their knowledge on photosynthesis. They will practice asking and answering questions about the topic, will help each other with new vocabulary. Working individually, in pairs and in small groups will improves students’ self-directed, collaborative learning and peer assisted learning skills. The teaching material can be successfully used for independent distance learning.

General aims:
- to deepen students’ knowledge in biology on photosynthesis and its importance,
- to improve the English language skills.

Students will be able to explain the phenomenon, its causes and effects and provide solutions to related problems in their context. They will acquire the basic English vocabulary connected with the topic (Photosynthesis). Students will develop positive learning habits such as organisational and problem-solving skills. The students will be able to understand the definition, the mechanism of photosynthesis, the importance of the factors involved in the process but especially the fact that photosynthesis is a vital process on our planet.

Linguistic aims
Students will be able to:
- read English texts to practice reading skills,
- reflect on their reading experience and share it with their peers
- get the main ideas from a text
- comprehend the topic correctly
- translate words connected with the topic (greenhouse effect) from English into their mother tongue.
- to expand active vocabulary,
- to improve speaking skills,
- to improve writing skills.

Subject specific aims
Students will be able to:
- explain the phenomenon - to explain what photosynthesis is,
- explain visually and theoretically how PHOTOSYNTHESIS works - to understand why it is important,
- know how to proof photosynthesis, to prove by an experiment the release of oxygen
- understand the influence of internal and external factors on photosynthesis
- learn what cells and organelles are involved in photosynthesis,
- find out what the steps of photosynthesis are.

Target groups age:
Students from high school 16-18+ years old.

Level of competence in English (CEFR)
B1+/B2

The teacher can ask the students what they have already known about this process. Then the teacher will explain theoretically and they will know a brief history about Photosynthesis.
They watch the video on an overview of photosynthesis and take notes on the following ideas: the location, importance, and mechanisms of photosynthesis; the roles of chloroplasts, chlorophyll, grana, thylakoid membranes, and stroma in photosynthesis. Teacher checks students’ notes with the class.
Students use the diagram and explain to each other the diagram on photosynthesis showing how water, light, and carbon dioxide are absorbed by a plant to produce oxygen, sugars, and more carbon dioxide.
Students read the text and translate unknown words into their native language using dictionaries or asking teacher for help and write them down into their notes. When all unknown words are translated, students are asked to read the text again and write questions for the answers to be found in the text. Students can work individually, or in pairs if they need peer assistance. Students will practice new topic (photosynthesis) vocabulary by asking and answering the questions, explaining the process of photosynthesis, why it is important, what cells and organelles are involved in photosynthesis and what the steps of photosynthesis are. For reflection, students are asked to write what they remember about photosynthesis without looking at the article or their notes. Reflection can be presented orally. They will practice asking and answering questions about the topic, will help each other with new vocabulary.
• Different phases to complete the lesson plan
Passive voice: it is built, it is made, it can be found…
Giving definition using relatives, Co2 it is…. which….
Asking and answering questions eg Why is photosynthesis important?
What is the basic formula for photosynthesis?
Which organisms can photosynthesize?
• Possible difficulties for the students
Students who have poor knowledge of English can have problems with understanding the content.
• Difficulties related to the interdisciplinarity of the lesson plan (if this is the case)
Students also may have difficulty understanding and interpreting the formula of photosynthesis.

Teaching Resources (created)

Teaching Resources (reviewed)

Collection of Lesson Plan

Photosynthesis: What is the basic formula for photosynthesis?