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Explain the interrelated nature of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Standard #: SC.912.L.18.9
Standard Information
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 912
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Standard: Matter and Energy Transformations -

A. All living things are composed of four basic categories of macromolecules and share the same basic needs for life.

B. Living organisms acquire the energy they need for life processes through various metabolic pathways (primarily photosynthesis and cellular respiration).

C. Chemical reactions in living things follow basic rules of chemistry and are usually regulated by enzymes.

D. The unique chemical properties of carbon and water make life on Earth possible.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
Related Courses
Related Access Points
  • SC.912.L.18.Pa.2 # Recognize that plants need water, light, and air to grow.
  • SC.912.L.18.In.4 # Recognize that plants give off oxygen that is used by animals and animals give off carbon dioxide that is used by plants.
  • SC.912.L.18.Su.4 # Recognize that people and animals breathe in the oxygen that plants give off.
Related Resources
Lesson Plans
  • Fueling Cells: Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration # This a lesson that focuses on the metabolic processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration and how the two processes are related.
  • Understanding Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis # Students will partake in an introduction of the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration and how they are interrelated. Within this lesson they will also receive data on how each of these processes relate to each each other in the real world. This lesson serves as a basic introduction to the standard.
  • Two Essential Life Processes Working Hand In Hand # This lesson plan has been designed to help teachers instruct their students on the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. The goal is for students to recognize the connection between the two. The resources in this lesson plan have been designed to help students investigate and deepen their knowledge on the concepts of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
  • Follow the Energy # Students will describe the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration and explain how they work in tandem to convert sunlight into energy that cells can use.
  • Complementarity of Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration # Using sensor technology, the effect of living plants and animals on each other will be assayed to model the complementarity of the two metabolic processes.
  • It's a Small World # Students will create a closed system and investigate the effects of organisms on the pH of the closed system to examine the interrelated nature of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
  • Just Breathe! # Students will complete an experimental lab setup using snails and elodea in test tubes placed in light and dark conditions to test the outcomes.
  • Corn Conundrum # The Corn Conundrum MEA provides students with an agricultural problem in which they must work as a team to develop a procedure to select the best variety of corn to grow under drier conditions predicted by models of global climate change. Students must determine the most important factors that make planting crops sustainable in restricted climate conditions for the client. The main focus of this MEA is manipulating factors relating to plant biology, including transpiration and photosynthesis. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
Original Student Tutorial
Presentation/Slideshow
  • Cell Processes and Energy: Photosynthesis and Respirataion # This presentation, a narrated PowerPoint, provides detailed information regarding photosynthesis and cellular respiration. It is provided by a teacher for his students, but is well-done and engaging enough to be useful for other students.
Tutorial
  • ATP Synthesis During Photosynthesis # Photosynthesis is often described as the reverse of cellular respiration. Respiration breaks down complex molecules to release energy that is used to make ATP. Photosynthesis takes energy from photons and uses it to build complex molecules. However both systems use an electron transport chain and associated proton pump and ATP synthase as a key part of the process. This tutorial will help you to understand the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis.
Video/Audio/Animations
  • Photosynthesis #
    • Observe the photosynthesis mechanism in the plant
    • Learn about the main chemical reactions that takes place during photosynthesis
    • Learn how solar energy is converted into chemical energy
  • Cellular Respiration # These animations show cell respiration as a big picture, and then go through the steps of cellular respiration: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and electron transport. Each animation is short and to the point.
  • Photosynthesis # This video provides an overview of photosynthesis.
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
  • Corn Conundrum # The Corn Conundrum MEA provides students with an agricultural problem in which they must work as a team to develop a procedure to select the best variety of corn to grow under drier conditions predicted by models of global climate change. Students must determine the most important factors that make planting crops sustainable in restricted climate conditions for the client. The main focus of this MEA is manipulating factors relating to plant biology, including transpiration and photosynthesis. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades 9-12
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