In this program, learners explore the energy in living systems. By looking at everything around us in the natural real world, learners are able to grasp how energy flows and transforms through natural objects, how it is stored and consumed to sustain life.
Relevant Topics
natural systems, ecosystem, photosynthesis, energy, energy flow, energy transformation, energy storage, energy consumption, food, plants, ecology, solar energy
CURRICULUM
CONNECTIONS
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Understand the process of energy transfer in nature
Understand the process of cellular respiration and its different stages
Understand how energy is stored in different foods
Understand how metabolism works and explore the daily energy requirements of individuals at different stages of growth and activity
Understand the process of photosynthesis
Real World Energy Activities
Length of Time: 3 hours
Cellular Respiration
Learners are introduced to an excellent overview of cellular respiration. The activity is designed to help them use the concepts presented in the backgrounder in familiar examples in everyday life.
In this activity learners will understand Earth’s energy budget, the movement of water and air around the Earth
and the potential impacts of global climate change on Earth energy systems.
In this activity, learners will understand how energy is stored in different foods by looking at the role of the major food molecules, their digestion and storage. Learners will identify whether a food item contains sugars, starches, fats and proteins, and expand their knowledge of the make-up of different food items.
