The 7th graders recently were given the task to act out the photosynthesis processes and build a sugar molecule. Combining acting into this lesson illustrated the components needed as ingredients, or reactants, to make a sugar molecule, the product.
To set the stage, the classroom represented a leaf, and the area outside the room represented the air surrounding a leaf. The door was the stoma, which allows fresh air to enter and exit the leaf. The counter opposite of the door was the xylem in the stem. The front of the classroom represented the sun.
Students had to immerse themselves in this simulation to complete the task. By locating where carbon dioxide, water, and light was in the room, they could better understand the process a plant cell goes through when making sugar. This interactive activity brought a minuscule yet important concept to life for the 7th graders and helped them better comprehend photosynthesis