Photosynthesis and stomata
Photosynthesis is the process that ultimately feeds almost every living thing on Earth, and it depends on tiny pores that let gases in and out of leaves.
Part of your national curriculum
- Biology: material cycles and energy: Understand the role of leaf stomata in gas exchange in plants and the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms to use sunlight
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand the role of leaf stomata in gas exchange in plants and the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms to use sunlight
Key learning points
- • Photosynthesis
- • Stomata and gas exchange
- • The base of almost all food chains
This lesson at a glance
- 26 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Photosynthesis and stomata
Photosynthesis is the process that ultimately feeds almost every living thing on Earth, and it depends on tiny pores that let gases in and out of leaves.
In a nutshell
Understand the role of leaf stomata in gas exchange in plants and the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms to use sunlight
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Photosynthesis
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is: carbon dioxide + water + (light energy) → glucose + oxygen. It happens in chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll to absorb light energy. The glucose produced is used for respiration, growth, and storage as starch.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Stomata and gas exchange
Stomata are tiny pores, mostly on the underside of leaves, surrounded by guard cells that open and close them. Carbon dioxide diffuses in and oxygen diffuses out through open stomata; water vapour also escapes, a process called transpiration.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · The base of almost all food chains
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
The base of almost all food chains
Photosynthetic organisms — plants, algae and some bacteria — are producers. They are the ultimate energy source for nearly every food chain, since consumers get their energy by eating producers or other consumers that ate producers.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ are tiny pores, mostly on the underside of leaves, surrounded by guard cells that open and close them.
Photosynthetic organisms — ____, algae and some bacteria — are producers.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
What gas do stomata mainly let into the leaf for photosynthesis?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Photosynthesis and stomata
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. What gas do stomata mainly let into the leaf for photosynthesis?
2. What controls the opening and closing of stomata?
3. Why are photosynthetic organisms essential to almost all life on Earth?
4. Where are most stomata found?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
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Understand the role of leaf stomata in gas exchange in plants and the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms to use sunlight