Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. It is one of the most important natural processes on Earth because it provides food and oxygen for all living beings.
In photosynthesis, plants take carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil. The chlorophyll in leaves captures sunlight and uses this energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose (sugar) and oxygen. The sugar is used by the plant for growth and energy, while oxygen is released into the air for humans and animals to breathe.
This model explains the process of photosynthesis—how plants make their food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and chlorophyll. The model will have:
- A rotating plant base
- An LED “Sun”
- Labeled parts like roots, leaves, CO₂, water, oxygen, etc.
Materials Required:
- Cardboard base or rotating disc (lazy Susan / spinner / CD base with ball bearing)
- Artificial or cardboard plant model
- 9V battery + battery clip + switch
- Yellow LED (to act as Sun)
- Wires, tape, glue gun
- Plastic straw (for CO₂ and oxygen labels)
- Cotton (optional, for clouds)
- Toothpicks or skewers (to hold labels)
- Color paper and sketch pens
- Scissors, Fevicol or glue
Video Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Make the Rotatable Base:
- Use a rotating disc (e.g., a lazy Susan, toy spinner, or CD with a ball bearing base).
- Attach a circular cardboard sheet on top as your stage.
2. Create the Plant:
- Make a plant using green paper or artificial leaves, and fix it upright at the center of the base.
- Add roots with brown wool or pipe cleaners, and leaves and a stem from cardboard or real parts.
3. Setup the LED Sun:
- Fix a yellow LED above the plant using a straw or stick, pointing down toward the plant.
- Connect the LED to a 9V battery with a switch to turn it ON/OFF.
- Decorate the LED with a yellow paper circle labeled “Sun.”
4. Add Labeled Parts:
- Use toothpicks/skewers and paper flags to label:
- Sunlight
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – use straws from air labeled with CO₂
- Water (H₂O) – arrows from the ground/roots
- Oxygen (O₂) – arrows leaving the leaves
- Glucose (Food) – inside the leaf area
5. Add Rotating Mechanism:
- When the base rotates, the plant turns slowly, allowing all parts to be seen.
- You can spin manually or use a slow DC motor if desired.