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Sugar, starch or cellulose? What carbohydrates do plants make?
This resource tackles the learning objective ‘“Carbohydrates can be found in a range of plant organs”. This is activity 4 in the ‘Photosynthesis: A Survival Guide’ scheme.
Pupils can test a variety of plant products for different sorts of carbohydrates, including glucose, starch and cellulose. These plant products can be fresh fruit and vegetables, but it is also interesting to test materials such as cotton wool and egg boxes, which contain a high proportion of cellulose.
This is another good opportunity to get students engaged in practical work related to photosynthesis and will stretch their understanding of the carbohydrates.
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Investigating photosynthesis and respiration using a carbon dioxide probe
This resource looks at photosynthesis and respiration through using a datalogger and carbon dioxide probe to measure amounts of carbon dioxide under different conditions.
For schools with a carbon dioxide probe and a datalogger, this resource outlines a lesson plan making use of it to look at the different amounts of carbon dioxide detected as students enter the room, when a Bunsen burner is lit and when placed beside a plant in the dark or the light.
For those without access to this equipment, the accompanying student sheet and Powerpoint gives an example graph that can be used for discussion and analysis.
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Photosynthesis: what are chloroplasts?
In this resource, part of the 'Photosynthesis - A Survival Guide' scheme for 11-14 pupils, students investigate chloroplasts and starch production. Students observe chloroplasts directly under the microscope using a plant such as Elodea pondweed.
Following this they take a thin section of potato tissue and stain it to show starch grains. Students then use their knowledge to hypothesise how variegated leaves might affect a plant’s growth.
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Medicines and drugs from plants - 'trumps' card game
Throughout human civilisation the plant world has provided a rich source of medicinal and recreational drugs. This resource uses the popular 'trumps' card game format to provide a fun and informative way for post-16 students to learn about some of these plant-derived pharmaceuticals. This also makes a fun science club activity lower down the school, with students focusing mainly on the poisons!
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Raising awareness of STEM Careers with post-16 students
Sixth-form students are often unaware of the wide range of science careers available to them. This resource is designed to raise awareness of a greater range of STEM careers for post-16 students. It includes 25 PowerPoint slides, each with information about a different science career, ranging from toxicology to environmental conservation.
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Evolutionary relationships, phylogenetic trees and finding new drugs
How can understanding phylogenetic trees and the evolutionary relationships between species lead to the discovery of new drugs for Alzheimers and other ?
These resources for post-16 students introduce evolutionary relationships and phylogenetic trees, putting it in the context of modern drug discovery. Topics covered include creating a phylogenetic tree, using DNA and protein sequences to determine evolutionary relationships, and identifying possible sources of new drugs. The resources include teachers' guide, students' worksheets and a Powerpoint.
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Investigating the antibacterial properties of plants: Introducing STEM Careers
In this resource, students investigate the antibacterial properties of plants. Their investigation is placed in the context of a case study of Prof Julian Ma who specialises in ‘pharming’ – the production of medicines by plants. Students read the case study and watch the video about Julian's medical research, and then carry out a practical using the disc diffusion method, testing various plants to see if they make chemicals which have antimicrobial properties.
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Investigating the anti-cancer properties of plants: Introducing STEM Careers
This resource, aimed at 11-14 (KS3) students, is part of the SAPS Careers in Science series, a set of resources to support science teachers in integrating STEM careers information with practical activities. Students are introduced to Dr Jess Chu, a young scientist researching Malaysian rainforest plants to see if they have antioxidant, anti-cancer or antibacterial properties. Students then carry out their own investigations into the presence of vitamin C, an antioxidant, in the different parts of different plants.
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Extracting oil from plants
GCSE science students need to understand that plant oils can be extracted by both crushing and pressing plant material and by the more complex process of steam distillation. This resource describes a simple technique that can be run as a demonstration or as a class practical to extract a plant oil. There are also a couple of quick demonstrations based on plant oils and instructions for a student activity.
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Phytoremediation and phytomining: a practical activity
Phytoremediation is the use of green plants to decontaminate soils in situ. Soils can become contaminated from activities such as mining & manufacturing. This practical activity investigates the use of hyperaccumulating plants to clean up copper contaminated soils. In turn, the copper can be extracted from the plants, known as phytomining.
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Hydroponics
This practical activity outlines how to grow plants hydroponically in the classroom. It aims to give students an understanding of the basic growth needs of plants. It also shows how hydroponics can be utilised to provide food to humans as our population expands.
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Video clip - Chloroplasts and starch
This BBC video clip introduces chloroplasts and the accumulation of starch grains. This can be used as an introduction to the importance and then the structure of the chloroplast. Older students can then discuss the internal structure of the chloroplast and relate it to the different stages in photosynthesis.
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Video clip - Light and starch production
This BBC video clip demonstrates the classic experiment to show that light is needed for the production of starch. The process can be discussed in terms of what is being done to the leaf at each stage and why the demonstration is so elegant. Pupils can then do their own leaf shading and iodine tests. This can then be extended into tests on leaves which have also been deprived of carbon dioxide.
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Video clip - Van Helmont's experiments on plant growth
This BBC video clip demonstrates Van Helmont's classic experiment to investigate the puzzle of how plants grow. The clip also raises issues about the use of scientific evidence to support conclusion and can be used to emphasise that firm conclusions can only be drawn when clear evidence is found.
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Video clip - Production of oxygen in plants
This BBC video clip demonstrates a classic experiment to investigate the production of oxygen by plants in sunlight. The design of Ingenhousz’ experiments can be discussed. The control of variables controlling photosynthesis such as light and heat etc. can be considered, and the way that only one variable can be changed while all others are controlled if firm conclusions are to be drawn.
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