The game can help...
By using the molecule-building activities, students will observe that all the materials the robot uses are made by reorganizing the atoms among different molecules. This mirrors the process of chemical change, where new substances are created by breaking bonds in molecules and reattaching the atoms in a new set of structures. This reinforces the concept that new materials do not simply “appear,” they are created from other chemicals by chemical change.
Photosynthesis Slideshow
Slides 10–12 explain the chemical changes that occur during photosynthesis and describe the rearrangement of atoms during the process. Slide 14 shows the chemical equation that represents photosynthesis. Slide 17 compares photosynthesis to respiration and shows that they are opposites. Slides 18 and 20 explain the chemical changes that occur during respiration and describe the rearrangement of atoms during the process.
What the Textbooks Say
Textbooks usually mention chemical change as part of the discussion of photosynthesis and respiration. Some texts discuss that the processes of photosynthesis and respiration are opposite reactions. Students may mistakenly think that carbon dioxide and water produce glucose and energy, not understanding that, in order to produce energy, glucose must combine with oxygen.