Plant Food Slides Life Science
Plant Food Power
How Leaves Make Food Through Photosynthesis
Simple
Visual
Step-by-Step
Where Does Food Making Happen?
Key Fact #1
The Plant's Kitchen
The LEAF is the part that makes food!
Stems hold the plant up, and roots drink water from the soil, but the leaves make all the food.
Remember This:
🌱 Part of plant = LEAVES
Leaves act like solar panels. They catch light and turn it into nutrition for the whole plant.
Guided Notes Check: Fill in the word "LEAVES" on Question 1.
What is Photosynthesis?
Key Fact #2
Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make their own food using light.
Photo
Means "LIGHT"
Synthesis
Means "PUTTING TOGETHER"
Big Idea: Plants cannot go to the grocery store. They make their own food!
What Plants Need (The 3 Ingredients)
Key Fact #3
1. Sunlight
Sunlight
Provides energy from the sun.
2. Water
Water
Absorbed from the soil by roots.
3. Gas
Carbon Dioxide
Taken in from the surrounding air.
Formula to remember: Sunlight + Water + Carbon Dioxide
What Photosynthesis Produces (Outputs)
Key Fact #4
Product #1
Glucose (Sugar)
This is the plant's FOOD ! It gives the plant energy to grow big and strong.
Product #2
Oxygen
Released into the air! This is the gas that humans and animals breathe .
Plants give us the oxygen we need to breathe every day!
The Role of Chlorophyll
Key Fact #5
What is Chlorophyll?
A special green pigment (coloring) found inside leaves.
Its Main Job:
It traps and absorbs sunlight!
Solar Sponge
Without chlorophyll, the plant could not catch sunlight energy to make food.
Say it together: klor - o - fil (Chlorophyll)!
Why Are Leaves Green?
Key Fact #6
Sunlight is made of all the colors of the rainbow together.
Absorbs Colors
Chlorophyll takes in red and blue light to use as energy.
Reflects Green
Chlorophyll cannot use green light, so it bounces green light back into our eyes!
🌿 Green light bounces off the leaf → We see the leaf as GREEN!
The Function of Stomata
Key Fact #7
What Are They?
Stomata are tiny pores (openings) on leaves.
Most stomata are located on the underside of the leaf so water does not dry out too quickly.
What Do They Do?
Let Carbon Dioxide IN
Enters the leaf for food making.
Let Oxygen OUT
Leaves the leaf into the fresh air.
Think of stomata like tiny breathing doors on the leaf!
Why Leaves Turn Red, Yellow, or Orange
Key Fact #8
1
In Autumn, Days Get Shorter & Cooler
There is less sunlight for plants to make food.
2
Green Chlorophyll Breaks Down
The green color fades away and disappears from the leaf.
3
Hidden Pigments Show Through!
Red, yellow, and orange colors were there all along, and now we can see them!
Chlorophyll hides the warm colors in spring & summer!
Quick Review Checklist
All 8 Concepts
Food Maker: Leaves
Photosynthesis: Plants making food
Needs: Sun, Water, CO₂
Makes: Glucose (sugar) & Oxygen
Chlorophyll: Traps sunlight
Why Green: Reflects green light
Stomata: Leaf pores for gases
Fall Colors: Chlorophyll breaks down
Great job! Now finish your guided notes sheet.
Plant Food Guided Notes Plant Food Power
Guided Notes • Page 1
Name:
Date:
Word Bank (Use these to fill in the blanks):
Leaves Food Sunlight Water Carbon Dioxide Glucose Oxygen
Part 1
The Plant's Food Factory
The are the main part of the plant responsible for making food.
Part 2
What is Photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make their own using energy from light.
Photo means: Light
Synthesis means: Putting together
Part 3
What Plants Need (The 3 Ingredients)
1. Light Energy
2. From Soil / Roots
3. Gas from the Air
Part 4
What Photosynthesis Produces (The 2 Products)
1. Plant Food (Sugar)
Gives the plant energy to live and grow.
2. Gas for Animals
Released into air for humans and animals to breathe.
Turn to Page 2 →
Plant Food Power
Guided Notes • Page 2
Leaf Structures & Colors
Word Bank (Page 2):
Chlorophyll Traps Green Stomata In Out Breaks down
Part 5
The Role of Chlorophyll
1. The green pigment inside leaf cells is called .
2. The main role of chlorophyll is that it (absorbs) sunlight so the plant has energy to make food.
Part 6
Why Leaves Are Green
Chlorophyll takes in red and blue light, but it bounces back (reflects) light. That reflected light enters our eyes, making leaves look green!
Part 7
The Function of Stomata
The tiny openings (pores) on the underside of a leaf are called .
Stomata let Carbon Dioxide:
Stomata let Oxygen:
Part 8
Why Leaves Turn Red, Yellow, or Orange
Fill in the 3 steps of autumn leaf color changes:
1 Days get shorter and have less sunlight in the autumn.
2 The green chlorophyll and disappears.
3 The hidden red, yellow, and orange colors can finally show through!
Quick Review: Match each term to its job
Leaves Make the plant's food
Chlorophyll Traps light energy
Stomata Tiny doors for gases
Great job! You have completed your Plant Food Power guided notes.
Plant Food Worksheet Plant Food Practice
Photosynthesis Worksheet • Page 1
Name:
Date:
Part A
Vocabulary Match-Up
Write the correct letter (A, B, C, or D) on the line next to each word.
1. Leaf
2. Photosynthesis
3. Glucose
4. Oxygen
A. The sugar food that gives plants energy to grow.
B. The main part of the plant responsible for making food.
C. The gas released into the air for humans to breathe.
D. The process plants use to make food using sunlight.
Part B
What Goes IN vs. What Comes OUT
Sort the 5 items below into the correct columns.
• Sunlight • Water • Carbon Dioxide • Glucose (Sugar) • Oxygen
What Plants NEED (3 Items):
What Plants MAKE (2 Items):
Part C
Choose the Best Answer
1. Which part of the plant catches sunlight and makes food?
A. The Roots
B. The Leaves
C. The Bark
2. In the word "photosynthesis", what does "photo" mean?
A. Water
B. Soil
C. Light
Turn to Page 2 →
Plant Food Practice
Chlorophyll, Stomata & Colors • Page 2
Page 2
Part D
Chlorophyll & Green Color
1. What is the green substance inside leaves that traps sunlight?
A. Chlorophyll
B. Water droplets
2. Why do leaves look green to our eyes?
A. Chlorophyll absorbs green light and keeps it inside.
B. Chlorophyll reflects (bounces back) green light to our eyes.
Part E
The Function of Stomata
Stomata are tiny openings (doors) on leaves. Circle the correct word in each sentence:
1. Carbon dioxide goes [ IN / OUT ] through the stomata.
2. Oxygen goes [ IN / OUT ] through the stomata.
Part F
Autumn Colors (Red, Yellow, & Orange)
Number these steps in order from 1 to 3 :
The green chlorophyll breaks down and disappears from the leaves.
Days become shorter with less sunlight in the autumn.
Hidden red, yellow, and orange colors can finally show through!
Part G
True or False
Plant Food Answer Key Teacher Answer Key
Plant Food Guided Notes Solutions
Guided Notes Key
1 Part 1: Food Factory
Answer: Leaves are the main part responsible for making food.
2 Part 2: Definition
Plants make their own food . "Photo" = Light . "Synthesis" = Putting together .
3 Part 3: What Plants Need (3 Ingredients)
1. Light Energy Sunlight
2. From Soil Water
3. Gas from Air Carbon Dioxide
4 Part 4: What Photosynthesis Produces
1. Sugar / Food: Glucose
2. Gas for Animals: Oxygen
5 Part 5: Chlorophyll
1. Pigment: Chlorophyll Traps (absorbs) sunlight.
6 Part 6: Why Leaves Look Green
Reflects Green light into our eyes (absorbs red and blue).
7 Part 7: Stomata
Openings: Stomata IN OUT
8 Part 8: Autumn Colors
Step 1: Less light in autumn.breaks down .
See Page 2 for Practice Worksheet Solutions →
Teacher Answer Key
Plant Food Practice Worksheet Solutions
Worksheet Key
A Vocabulary Match-Up
1. Leaf B (Food factory)
2. Photosynthesis D (Process making food)
3. Glucose A (Sugar food)
4. Oxygen C (Gas to breathe)
B Inputs vs Outputs Sorting
Plants NEED (Inputs): 1. Sunlight • 2. Water • 3. Carbon Dioxide
Plants MAKE (Outputs): 1. Glucose (Sugar) • 2. Oxygen
C Multiple Choice
1. Catches light / makes food: B. The Leaves
2. "Photo" means: C. Light
D Chlorophyll & Color
1. Green substance: A. Chlorophyll
2. Why green: B. Reflects green light
E Stomata Pores
1. Carbon dioxide goes IN .
