Article 3:  How Artificial Photosynthesis Works

When it comes to finding the cheapest and smartest source of energy, plants seem to be smarter than humans!

Can we learn from plants by using the same energy that plants use to get the products we want?  What research is being done in this field?  Will we be able to use artificial photosynthesis on a large scale?  What are the challanges in creating artificial photosynthesis?  What are the advantages?

Read this 4 page article in the link below and try to find answers for these questions.  In this article the author explains that an artificial photosynthesis system or photoelectrochemical cells  that mimic photosynthesis in plants could in the future create inexpensive supply of gas and electricity. The article discusses what research has been done so far in this field, the application for artificial photosynthesis, and why artificial photosynthesis is not as easy to design as some other energy converting systems.
You will be happy to know how learning about plants may help us discover new sources of energy!

Link How Stuff Works

Layton, J. (n.d.). How Artificial Photosynthesis Works. Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/energy-production/artificial-photosynthesis.htm

Trade Book 2:

Seeds, Stems, And Stamens: The: Susan E. Goodman 

This book is an NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book.  After reading the reviews I decided that it will be a good addition to this blog because seeds, stems an stamens are important parts of plant form and function.  According to the reviews, the book links plant anatomy to plant adaptation. The concepts are introduced through questions and it has outstanding photographs.  Although the book is for a lower grade level I think it is a good book for you to see how plants change form to adapt to different environments. You will use it as extra reading material to learn more about plant structure.

Goodman, S. (2001). Seeds, Stems, and Stamens: The Ways Plants Fit Into The World. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.

Website 2:  Science Class

This is an interactive website that is a resource initially set up with student, teachers and parents in mind.  I suggest you visit this website and spend some time learning more about photosynthesis.   It has a lot of activities for different grade levels. I liked how the resources are appropriate for grades 5 through 9 so choose the ones for you or see what other levels might have. You can browse and look at slideshows or do some of the activities that are for high school students. I think you will enjoy the interactive animation section and you can even test yourself by taking some of the online quizes.  The website is very useful because it also has study and review notes and vocabulary development on photosynthesis.

Science-Class. Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.science-class.net/Biology/Photosynthesis.htm

Article 2:  Plant Structure and Function

This article from the University of Illinois at Chicago is a great outline on plant structure and function in angiosperms which are the most common type of plants: flowering plants. It starts by outlining some differences between monocots and dicots (2 groups within angiosperms).  It then outlines all the cell types in the plant body, plant tissue and finally talks about plant growth.  It is a very organized article that will come in handy anytime you want to know about the different parts of the plant. You will like how it is written in an outline form with bullets.

This is a picture from the article, many more if you go to the link.

University of Illinois at Chicago. BioLabs 100. (n.d).  Plant Structure and Function. Retrieved from http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/labs/plantanatomy.htm

Video 2  :  What is Photosynthesis?

This video is an introduction to photosynthesis.  It is basic yet very informative.  I really liked how it starts with defining all the raw materials that are needed for photosynthesis and it shows their chemical formulas. It then explains how the plants obtain the raw material from the environment and finally it shows the equation of photosynthesis. 
This video is a good basis for learning how to write the photosynthesis formula and how glucose and oxygen are the end products.  It is a good start for learning how plants make their own food.  I will be posting more videos that explains the process in more detail later on so let us learn the basics first.

drolly00. (2011, October 16). What is Photosynthesis [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJQxHoqIPIM

Website:  Plant Cell Anatomy

This is a fun website called The Enchanted Learning.  You will enjoy this website because it was designed for curious minds. The illustration of the plant cell is very colorful and the labeling is very clear.  It also has a glossary of plant cell anatomy parts such as the cell wall, chlorophyll, chloroplast and also the functions of all the different plant cell organells.  The glossary is very easy to read and will be a great help for you whenever you want to remember any plant anatomy cell part. 

Fun Activity: Quiz yourself by printing the "Label Me" print out of a plant cell from the website.  Practice labeling all the parts of a plant cell and see how much you know!

Plant Cell Anatomy. (n.d.). Enchanted Learning. Retrieved from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/cell/

Book:  
Photosynthesis (Science Concepts Second) 

From reading reviews about this book it seems to be a good introduction on photosynthesis. It explains the process and the history of discoveries.   The book combines both general reading and research material done in this field. The combination of the facts about photosynthesis and the great photographs makes it a good book to have.  The book also makes you see how photosynthesis is used in the real world by describing materials in life that are dependent on this process. I think it is a good book to have and you can always refer to it if you have any questions about photosynthesis.

Silverstein, A. & Silverstein, V. & Nun, L.S. (2008). Photosynthesis (Science Concepts Second). Minneapolis, MN: Twenty First Century Books.