Subject taught
- Biology

Link
http://www2.nau.edu/lrm22/lessons/photosynthesis/photosynthesis.html

Type of Product
- Web Site/Portal

Language Skills Developed
- Listening
- Reading

Transferable/Scientific Skills Developed
To observe, analyze and describe phenomena belonging to natural reality and to the aspects of daily life To formulate hypothesis and verify them To use simple schematizations and modelling To acquire and understand information and know how to connect it To face problematic situations.

Description
General aims. With this laboratory activity, using spinach leaves, we want to demonstrate that, in the presence of light and carbon dioxide, the leaf tissues produce gas bubbles. With this experiment it cannot be shown that the bubbles are oxygen, but by using a control, it can be highlighted that they are formed only when the leaves are immersed in a sodium bicarbonate solution (which releases CO 2) and not when they are immersed in pure water. When we dissolve the baking soda (NaHCO3) in water, carbonic acid (H 2CO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are formed. The carbonic acid then decomposes into water and carbon dioxide gas, which is why the dissolution of the baking soda in water makes it sparkling. It can also be shown that bubbles are formed only in the presence of strong light, moving the experiment into the dark and making further observations. Finally, it can be demonstrated the effect the light has on the process by varying its intensity. Laboratory activities are very important, they aim to develop scientific research skills in children in order to formulate hypotheses, to design experiments, to know how to observe, to be able to perform measurements and to be able to interpret their results Linguistic aims • To improve language skills in L2 • To enrich scientific vocabulary • To know how to move from one linguistic register to another • To produce clear and coherent texts in L2 • To summarize written texts Subject specific aims • Knowing how to experimentally test that plants produce gas. • Knowing how to demonstrate the effect of changing the intensity of light in the synthetic photo process. Target group age 14/15 age Level of competence in English (CEFR) B1 Time required to use the resource with the students 2h How to use it After addressing the analysis of the resource with the teacher, the students are divided into small groups, each of which will be provided with the activity sheet. At the end of the experiment, the students will answer the questionnaire in the form and discuss about it. Possible difficulties for the students For a successful experiment, you must carefully follow the protocol and pay attention to the video

Related Video Lessons

The Biogeochemical Cycle of Carbon

Photosynthesis