Lesson 2.2: Photosynthesis
NGSS
VAPA Standards:
5.TH:Cr2
Creating-Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
b. Participate in defined responsibilities required
to present a drama/theatre work informally to an audience.
5.TH:Pr4
Performing-Anchor Standard 4: Select,
analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation
b. Use physical choices
to create meaning in a drama/theatre work.
5.TH:Pr5
Performing-Anchor Standard 5: Develop and
refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
a. Choose acting
exercises that can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
b. Demonstrate the use of technical theatre
elements in a drama/theatre work.
Objective:
Students will demonstrate knowledge of photosynthesis by creating and performing a tableau.
Materials
Per Student:
- Red and Black Colored Pencils, Markers, or Crayons
Per Table Group
- Photosynthesis Play Role Cards
- Photosynthesis Play Instructions
Prep
- Place red, and black colored pencils and/or markers at each table group.
- Print out Photosynthesis Play Role Cards and Instructions for each group of 5-6 students.
- Place art supplies (markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils) at each table.
- Pull up the slides.
- Fill a couple large cups with tap water and a few large cups with sunflower seeds. Set aside to be used by the students when they need to fill up their food and water cups.
Procedure
Introduction:
5 Minutes: Theatre Warm-Up
1. Have students recall the photosynthesis movements from the last lesson. Have them do the movements while they repeat the sentence back to you. "Water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide go into the plant to create energy and oxygen".
2. Have students stand up to prepare for their theatre activity.
3. Have them show the following with their bodies. Ask them to remain silent.
- Sadness
- Happiness
- Sunshine
- A dog
- Rain
- Diving into a pool
- Walking through a door
4. Tell students that in theatre, body movements can show emotion and convey meaning.
- Tableau is a type of theatre. They just did tableau when they acted out animals and things using their bodies
- Define Tableau as a silent depiction of a scene using body movements. The scene will start with actors frozen and then on cue, they will begin moving to bring meaning to their show.
5. Tell students they will be creating a tableau to show photosynthesis.
Explanation:
2-5 Minutes: Explanation of the Activity.
1. Split the class into groups of 5 or 6. Give each student in the groups an actor card with their role.
2. Read the instructions aloud, while having students read along in their groups.
- You will each have a role in the photosynthesis play. Please act out the photosynthesis process, while holding your sign to show the audience what role you are playing. The show should be only about 30 seconds long. You have 10 minutes to figure out your demonstration.
3. Review photosynthesis briefly. Go through the diagram on the board of a plant's photosynthesis process.
Activity:
10 Minutes: Create and Perform a Photosynthesis Tableau
1. Allow students to share their presentations to the classroom.
- After each performance, have students share what they saw and liked.
Closing:
10-15 Minutes: Cleaning and Care/Observations
1. Pass out role tags to each table group (optional)
2. Have the "Supplier" from each table group grab their containers from the insulated coolers and bring them carefully to their table.
3. Have students carefully change and remove the plastic portion cups from the containers.
4. Have the "Waterer" and "Feeder" change the water and sunflower seeds.
5. Remind the "Escape Watch" students to use the paintbrushes to keep the insect in their containers.
6. Have students place the clean food and water cups back into the containers.
7. Give students about 5 minutes to write their observations. Encourage them to work with their table group to fill out this section.
- Show the slide of the different nymph stages of the insects.
8. Once students have completed their observations, ask them to clean up their space and have their "Supplier" return trays to the coolers according to labeled temperature.
Beyond the Experiment
- Growing Milkweed Plants
- HSS Connection: Chumash and the Milkweed Plant