Blended Learning Lesson Plan

Lesson Title: Photosynthesis: The Process and How it Works

Objectives:

 Students will be able to explain how the process of photosynthesis works.

 Students will be able to illustrate the process of photosynthesis.

State Standards: Develop and revise models to describe how photosynthesis transforms light
energy into stored chemical energy.

Context:

This lesson is a 5th grade science lesson. Students have already learned about the parts of a plant,
now it’s time to take it a step further. In this lesson, students will learn how the process of
photosynthesis works, and why it is important for our environment as well as for us.
Photosynthesis is responsible for providing energy and oxygen to all living organisms. Students
must first understand photosynthesis in order to learn about the more complex processes of the
Earth later on in their future education. After this lesson, students will be able to confidently
explain the process of photosynthesis as well as be able to illustrate a diagram of the process on
how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.

Data:

In this lesson, students will be divided into three different groups. There will be a low level
group, a medium level group, and a high level group. These groups will be based off of the
ability of the student to understand and apply the information taught to them. This information
will be taken from last class’ worksheet. Students who got less than half the answers correct will
be in the low level group, students who got about half of the answers correct will be in the
medium level group, and students who got more than half of the answers correct will be in the
high level group. The data collected from today’s learning activities will be used to further group
students and to help each student reach their full academic potential.

Materials:

Part of Materials Link:

Lesson: Needed:
Introduction -Smart Board https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iln136eMl4g
-Science
Notebooks and
Pencils
Teacher -White Paper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgaT2J6cfzk
Directed -Colored
 Pencils
Collaborative -Construction None
Paper
-Baggies with
parts of the
flower and
labels
Independent -iPads https://edpuzzle.com/media/5a26b27c642d9640fc5a2b80
Digital -Photosynthesis
Worksheet
Closure -Smart Board https://kahoot.it/
-iPads

Procedures:

Introduction (20 minutes):

At the beginning of class, students will be asked to take their assigned seats and get out
their science notebooks and pencils to take notes. I will then pull up a lecture on
photosynthesis and how the process works. Students will be expected to take notes
throughout the lecture. After the lecture, students will watch a 5-minute YouTube video
that further explains the process of photosynthesis. Once the video ends, I will then
divide the students into their groups and explain to them the rotations we will be doing
for the day.

Teacher Directed (15 minutes):

At this teacher directed station, I will assist students in making a photosynthesis diagram
as well as explain to them how the process works. I will display a YouTube video of how
to draw a photosynthesis diagram. Students are expected to follow along with the video
and draw the process of photosynthesis with their paper and colored pencils. The video
helps the students draw the diagram step by step, and I will be assisting the students as
they are drawing. After the video and drawings are complete, I will explain the steps of
the diagram to the students and how photosynthesis turns light energy into chemical
energy. Students are expected to ask me questions throughout if they are struggling, and I
will assist them as they work.

Collaborative (15 minutes):

In this collaborative station, students are expected to work as a group to make a

photosynthesis diagram from a baggie that contains the parts of a flower, as well as labels
for each step of photosynthesis. Students will be given one piece of construction paper
and are to put their minds together to complete the diagram from the pieces and labels
 given. Once they think they have correctly put together the diagram, they are to glue
these pieces to the construction paper. I will review the groups’ work later on to make
sure they have everything correctly put together and labeled. If pieces are in the wrong
place, I will explain to the group where they went wrong and why it has to be in a
different place. This will help the students better understand the steps and process of
photosynthesis.

Independent Digital (15 minutes):

At this station, students are expected to pick up a Photosynthesis worksheet and the iPad
assigned to them. On their iPads, students are to log into their Edpuzzle account and
watch the Photosynthesis video assigned to them. They are to watch this video
independently using their headphones. As they watch the video, students are expected to
fill out the Photosynthesis worksheet that goes along with it. These worksheets will be
collected as the end of class and I will review them to make sure students are
understanding the material.

Closure: (20 minutes):

Once students have completed each station for the day, they will turn in their completed
work and will return to their assigned seats. I will then pull up the code for a class Kahoot
game on the Smart Board, and students will put the code into their individual iPads to
play the game. The Kahoot game will have questions based off of the information we
have learned from the rotations today. Based on the answers from the game, I will be able
to see where students are best understanding the material, as well as where students are
struggling with the material. With this information, I will be able to know if I can move
on to the next lesson or if I need to spend more time on the Photosynthesis process.

Rationale:

Photosynthesis Smart Board Lecture and Video:

This Smart Board lecture will give students a basic understanding of the material
and will help prepare the students for the information they will be learning for the
day. As students are listening to the lecture, they will be writing good notes that
will help get the information stuck in their brain. After the lecture, the follow up
video is to give students a good visual of the process of photosynthesis before
they begin their rotations for the day.

YouTube Follow Along Video:

 This tutorial video of how to draw a photosynthesis diagram helps students learn
the step by step process of photosynthesis. Students are able to visually see how
photosynthesis works. As they draw out the diagram along with the video, it will
help them to memorize the steps of photosynthesis. Drawing the photosynthesis
diagram from the video gives students a fun way to learn about the process rather
than just taking notes from the board.

Edpuzzle:

The Edpuzzle video dives further into the process of photosynthesis. This video
keeps the students’ attention with color and illustrations that make learning the
process of photosynthesis fun. To ensure that students are paying attention to the
video, a worksheet is given to them that has questions that go along with the
video. Having students watch the video and complete the worksheet
independently allows me to see if that student clearly understands the information
without the help of other students.

Kahoot:

The Kahoot game played at the end of the lesson is an effective way to measure
students’ knowledge on what we have learned in class today. It quizzes students
in a fun way without them knowing they are being quizzed. This game is a great
review for students, and the results will help me determine if students are
understanding the material, or if they are still struggling. As the game is
somewhat of a competition, it motivates students to really think and try to answer
the questions to the best of their abilities.