22 Photosynthesis Activities For Middle School: Diagrams, Games, Experiments, DIYs, And Video Lesson

The process of photosynthesis is a plant’s ability to convert light energy from the sun and carbon dioxide, into chemical food energy.

These 22 fun and interactive lessons, visual activities, lab activities, crafts, and experiments will help your middle school students understand the process of photosynthesis, the elements involved in this process, and the importance of photosynthesis to plants as well as to humans and animals.

1. Diagram To Illustrate The Process of Photosynthesis

This visual representation includes the elements involved during photosynthesis, like carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen, water, chloroplasts, carbohydrates, and sunlight.

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2. Photosynthesis Relay Game

This fun, hands-on activity is a great way to reinforce learning about the photosynthesis formula. This game can be simplified or made harder, depending on the students’ age. All you need are two pieces of green construction paper, a copy of the pattern page, four envelopes, and two flashlights.

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3. Worksheet to Test Your Students’ Knowledge of Photosynthesis

This engaging worksheet activity will help your students understand the concepts of photosynthesis.

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4. Fun Video To Help Your Students Understand The Formula For Photosynthesis

This engaging video by the Amoeba Sisters perfectly explains all the elements involved in photosynthesis and the formula for photosynthesis.

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5. Experiment To Measure The Rate of Photosynthesis

This hands-on activity will allow your students to explore and discover the importance of sunlight and carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. You’ll need baking soda, a plastic syringe, fresh spinach leaves, a hole punch, plastic cups, a timer, and a light source.

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6. Experiment To Determine Which Trees Produce The Most Oxygen

This fun activity will help your students to understand how leaves create oxygen and the chemistry behind photosynthesis. For this experiment, you will need small containers of the same size, several types of leaves, and a timer.

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7. Learn About Pigments, Chlorophyll, And Leaf Chromatography

Chromatography is the process of separating a mixture by passing it through another medium. In this experiment, your students will learn about chlorophyll in leaves, which gives leaves their bright green color, and how it changes to a different color in Autumn. You will need rubbing alcohol, coffee filters, mason jars, craft sticks, tape, scissors, and colorful leaves.

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8. Observe The Photosynthesis Process in a Spinach Leaf

In this experiment, your students will observe the photosynthesis process taking place, when you provide the spinach leaves with carbon dioxide, and exposure to sunlight. The leaves will release tiny oxygen bubbles. You’ll need fresh spinach leaves, a hole puncher, baking soda, dish soap, a plastic syringe, 2 clear cups, a measuring spoon, and access to sunlight.

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9. Learn All About Cellular Respiration

On the opposite end of photosynthesis is cellular respiration. We use the energy (glucose), and oxygen that plants release during photosynthesis, to create a form of energy, where we then release carbon dioxide and water, which plants need to make their own food, and so the cycle continues.

For this cellular respiration review activity, you’ll need straws, 150 ml beakers, rubber bands, plastic wrap, bromothymol blue indicator solution, distilled water, a stopwatch, baking soda, and distilled vinegar.

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10. Learn About a Plant Cell’s Structure and Functions

This yummy, fun activity can be used for students in all grade levels and will teach your students all about the plant cell, and the different components that make up the cell.

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11. Fun Digital Lesson Bundle With Activities To Teach Concepts of Photosynthesis

This digital resource will help you save hours of lesson prep with its engaging resources and photosynthesis lessons.

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12. Hands-on Activities to Promote The Understanding of Photosynthesis

These printable resources will help solidify your students understanding of photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and all the elements and processes involved.

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13. Make Your Own Plant Cell

With this fun printable, your students will be able to create their very own plant cell and learn about all of the components and their names.

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14. Fun Craft to Demonstrate Photosynthesis

This beautiful craft will make learning about the components of photosynthesis more fun! This free printable is an easy way to review your students’ knowledge or to introduce the topic to them. It can be modified to use with students of all ages by adding to it or making it easier.

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15. National Geographic’s Resource Library Will Teach Your Students All About Photosynthesis

This Encyclopedic entry will teach your students all about chlorophyll, the process, light-dependent reactions, and different types of photosynthesis.

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16. Build a Working Photosynthesis Model

This activity is great for the upper grades or to challenge your students to delve deeper into the process. For this working model, you will need a lightbulb and accessories to make it work, card stock, a plant, labels, and soil.

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17. 3-D Photosynthesis Tree Model

This fun project can be done at home or in class. It will help your students understand which parts of the plants perform which processes.

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18. Video Lesson About Photosynthesis And Respiration

This video lesson explains the concept of photosynthesis and respiration and includes real-life examples and illustrations for easy retention.

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19. Online Resources to Teach Photosynthesis

This online resource contains explanations, background information, opportunities for exploration, and making connections.

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20. 5 Tips For Teaching Photosynthesis

These 5 tips can help you successfully teach the complex process of biochemical reactions, independent reactions, and the carbon cycle which are all involved in photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

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21. Photosynthesis in Aquatic Plants

This resource will help your students understand how photosynthesis takes place in aquatic plants and the importance of aquatic plants in our everyday lives.

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22. Play a Carbon Cycle Game

This fun game will solidify any knowledge that your students have on photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and the carbon cycle. Use it as an introduction to the topic, or to end your lesson. No matter when you use it, it is sure to make learning fun.

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