Sample: Biology Academy

Although students can describe the chemical equation for photosynthesis accurately, they may not connect the CO₂ in that equation with the CO₂ in the air, or the fact that plants continuously undergo respiration to maintain metabolism (just like humans!) whether the plant is photosynthesizing or not.

Even for students who major in science, misconceptions formed at a young age persist through college. This investigation helps students uncover and remedy their misconceptions, while encouraging them to think about how the movement of matter and energy truly connects to the phenomena of photosynthesis and respiration as they use the CO₂ sensor to "watch" leaves exchange matter and energy. The video and data are compatible with two versions of this lab: Plant Respiration and Photosynthesis and advanced-level Photosynthesis.