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Science Worksheet on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

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Photosynthesis: Making Energy

Name    Date    Period

Objective:

Chloroplasts

Photosynthesis is a process in which sunlight energy is used to make glucose. The site of photosynthesis is in the chloroplast – an organelle found in the leaves of green plants. The main functions of chloroplasts are to produce food (glucose) during photosynthesis, and to store food energy. Chloroplasts contain the pigment, chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs most of the colors in the color spectrum, and reflects only green and yellow wavelengths of light. This is why we see leaves as green or yellow – because these colors are reflected into our eyes.

1. What is photosynthesis?

2. Where does photosynthesis occur?

3. What are chloroplasts and where are they found?

4. What are the two main functions of chloroplasts?

5. Why do most leaves appear green?

6. What is the primary pigment found in the chloroplast?

Photosynthesis

Glucose is another name for sugar. The molecular formula for glucose is C6H12O6. Plants make sugar by using the energy from sunlight to transform CO2 from the air with water from the ground into glucose. This process, called photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast of the plant cell. During this process, oxygen (O2) is created as a waste product and is released into the air for us to breathe. The formula for photosynthesis is:

CO2 + H2O + sunlight ----> C6H12O6 + O2

7. What is the formula for photosynthesis?

8. What three things are used to make glucose in photosynthesis?

9. Where does the water come from?

10. Where does the water enter the plant?

11. Name 3 some sources of CO2.

12. What type of energy does the plant use to convert CO2 and H2O into sugar?

The products are glucose and oxygen. The glucose produced is used by the plant for energy and growth. We also use this glucose by eating plants. The oxygen produced is released into the air for us to breathe. Photosynthesis is essential for all life on earth, because it provides food and oxygen. Plants are considered autotrophs because unlike us humans, they can make their own food using this process.

13. What is produced in photosynthesis?

14. What is the glucose used for?

15. What is the oxygen used for?

16. Here are three different ways to visualize the photosynthesis reaction: Is it easier for you to understand the reaction by using pictures, words, or symbols (see above)? Why?

Photosynthesis in pictures

(Use the diagram shown on the worksheet)

Photosynthesis in words

Carbon dioxide and water combine with sunlight to create oxygen and glucose.

Photosynthesis in symbols

CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2

Essential Question:

Describe, using scientific terms, how plants turn sunlight into energy? Make sure to refer to the chemical equation to photosynthesis and discuss the reactants and products.

Cellular Respiration: Breaking down Energy

Name    Date    Period

Objective:

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell. They are organelles that act like a digestive system that takes in nutrients, breaks them down, and creates energy for the cell. The process of creating cell energy is known as cellular respiration. Most of the chemical reactions involved in cellular respiration happen in the mitochondria. A mitochondrion is shaped perfectly to maximize its efforts.

1. What process happens in the mitochondria?

2. What is the purpose of the process in #1 (what does it create)?

Introduction to Cellular Respiration

Organisms, such as plants and algae, can trap the energy in sunlight through photosynthesis and store it in the chemical bonds of carbohydrate molecules. The principal carbohydrate formed through photosynthesis is glucose. Other types of organisms, such as animals, fungi, protozoa, and a large portion of the bacteria, are unable to perform this process. Therefore, these organisms must rely on the carbohydrates formed in plants to obtain the energy necessary for their metabolic processes. This means they must eat plants and other animals in order to gain energy.

4. Some organisms perform photosynthesis to produce energy. Other organisms cannot do photosynthesis. What can they do in order to generate energy?

5. Animals and other organisms obtain the energy available in carbohydrates through the process of cellular respiration. What is the purpose of cellular respiration?

6. What happens to carbohydrates during cellular respiration?

7. What is the chemical energy in the cell called?

8. What does ATP stand for?

9. What is one product of cellular respiration?

10. How do animals get rid of the carbon dioxide? What body system is involved with removing this waste?

Also in the process of cellular respiration, oxygen gas is required to serve as an acceptor of electrons. This oxygen is identical to the oxygen gas given off during photosynthesis.

11. (Circle one) Oxygen is a PRODUCT OR REACTANT of respiration? (In other words, is it needed or released?)

Energy-producing process Reaction Location in cell
Photosynthesis 12. Chloroplast
Cellular respiration C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 H2O + 6CO2 + energy 13.

Reflection Question:

Explain the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Be sure to include the main purpose of both and where they occur inside the cell.

HUMANS AND PLANTS

Humans need plants. All animals do. Humanity's relationship with plants has actually made it possible for us to have a civilization. Before we had cities, humans went around in little packs and were hunter-gatherers. We ate rats, birds, berries, and whatever food we could find. It wasn't very efficient. One day someone had the bright idea to plant the plants we like to eat. When humans did that, they were able to stay in one place full time. Then came the cities and a huge system of agriculture to support millions of people.

BIG TIME FARMING

As time has passed, we have taken farming to new levels. We have manipulated species to create big apples and large ears of corn. The plants would never have done it in the wild. It took man to change the plants. We are also moving toward the genetic alteration of plants. We're trying to make plants that are resistant to disease and bugs. These stronger plants will allow our crops to give us more food from the same amount of space.

1. Genetic alteration probably refers to altering what…. (found in the nucleus)

Enter text✕

What the Science Worksheet on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Covers

Science Worksheet on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration is a classroom-ready assessment and practice resource that explains how plants convert light energy into chemical energy and how cells harvest that energy through respiration. The worksheet includes concise background text, labeled diagrams of chloroplasts and mitochondria, data tables for experimental measurements, guided observational prompts, and short-answer questions that link inputs and outputs for each process. It is structured for middle and high school biology, adaptable for lab exercises, distance learning, and can be distributed as a printable PDF or an editable digital file for submissions and records.

Why use this worksheet in your biology unit

The worksheet reinforces core concepts—light reactions, Calvin cycle, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and ATP production—while collecting lab data for inquiry-based assessment. It standardizes student responses for consistent grading, supports formative assessment, and fits printed or digital workflows for classroom, hybrid, or remote instruction.

Why use this worksheet in your biology unit

Primary users and participants

Common users include classroom teachers, lab instructors, and curriculum coordinators responsible for lesson delivery and assessment.

  • Middle and high school biology teachers administering classwork, homework, or formative laboratory assessments for standards alignment.
  • Students completing guided practice, recording experimental data, and answering short-response questions during labs or remote assignments.
  • Curriculum specialists and instructional coaches adapting items for differentiated instruction, accommodations, or assessment rubrics.

Materials are suitable for in-person labs, remote submissions, and digital grading tools with minimal configuration.

Key elements that make the worksheet classroom-ready

A professional Science Worksheet on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration balances explanatory content with clear tasks and reproducible data collection to support reliable assessment and meaningful student feedback.

Diagram

High-contrast, labeled chloroplast and mitochondrion diagrams with callouts for light reactions, electron transport, ATP synthase, and substrate-level phosphorylation to support visual learners.

Background

Concise context paragraphs explaining reactants, products, energy carriers, and overall equations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration to frame student responses.

Guided Questions

Tiered questions that assess recall, application, and analysis—multiple-choice, short answer, and data interpretation prompts aligned to learning objectives.

Data Table

Structured observation tables for measured variables (light intensity, O2/CO2 change, glucose estimate) with units and blank rows for repeats.

Answer Key

Instructor key with model answers, scoring rubric, and exemplar data interpretations to support consistent grading and feedback.

Accessibility

Readable fonts, descriptive alt text for images, and editable fields to support accommodations and assistive technologies.

Step-by-step: distributing and collecting the worksheet

Follow these steps to prepare, assign, collect, and record results for each student reliably.

  • 01
    Prepare: Select format and customize prompts or data tables.
  • 02
    Assign: Publish via LMS, email, or print for the class.
  • 03
    Collect: Accept digital uploads, e-signed copies, or physical hand-ins.
  • 04
    Record: Log submissions, grade, and archive per retention policy.

Configuring a digital workflow for the worksheet

Configure the digital assignment so students can complete, sign (if required), and submit records with minimal friction.

Field Configuration
Document Format PDF or editable DOCX depending on LMS compatibility.
Signature Type Simple electronic signature or typed name accepted.
Authentication Email link or single-factor school SSO for student identity.
Routing Direct submissions to instructor inbox or gradebook.

Where to send completed worksheets and records

Standard submission destinations and expected handling procedures for completed worksheets.

  • Learning Management System: Upload student files to the LMS assignment folder for grading.
  • Instructor Email: Send signed PDFs to the instructor's official address when LMS is unavailable.
  • Shared Cloud Folder: Place files in a class-shared storage with access controls.
  • School Archive: Store graded copies in the district retention system per policy.

Technical considerations for e-submission and signatures

Confirm platform capabilities, file formats, and authentication before assigning digital worksheets to students.

  • File Types: PDF and DOCX widely supported.
  • Authentication: Use school SSO for reliable identity.
  • Privacy: FERPA protections may apply to student data.

Common timing and submission expectations

Establish clear due dates and grading turnaround expectations to support fairness and timely feedback.

Assignment Posted Date:

Date students receive the worksheet and instructions.

Submission Due Date:

Final date and time for student uploads or turn-in.

Grading Return Window:

Typical instructor timeframe for returning graded work.

Retention Start:

When official record retention begins for the submission.

Extension Policy:

Conditions and process for approved submission extensions.

Common mistakes to avoid when using the worksheet

  • Incomplete observation entries: leaving blank cells in data tables makes analysis and grading unreliable and may require resubmission.
  • Inconsistent naming: variations in student names or class codes complicate gradebook imports and record reconciliation.
  • Poor file formats: submitting unsearchable image scans prevents text-based feedback and reduces accessibility for assistive tools.
  • Missing consent or signature: when required, absent electronic consent can invalidate formal lab records or parental approvals.

Potential consequences of incorrect or incomplete submissions

Academic Penalty: Late or missing work may reduce the grade.
Data Loss: Unbacked files can be irretrievable if not archived.
Privacy Breach: Unauthorized disclosures can violate FERPA.
Invalid Records: Unsigned mandatory forms may be administratively void.
Access Issues: Improper permissions block instructor review.
Audit Risk: Incomplete retention records complicate compliance.

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Frequently asked questions about completing and submitting the worksheet

Answers to common practical and technical questions encountered when assigning, signing, or storing the worksheet.


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