Implementation of ‘From the photon to the leaf’ (SoI-BE-551)
Author: Sofie Dewitte School: Freinetatheneum De Wingerd
1.The Stages of implementation
Introduction
The teacher explains how photosynthesis works, the different stages of the process and chemical reactions.
Main activities
Lesson 1: Use of Europeana platform
Students are divided into groups and invited to look up Europeana for documents about photosynthesis, using keywords, such as chlorophyll, photosynthesis, carbon assimilation, light, etc..
Lesson 2: Collect data for hypothesis
Duration: 1 lesson
Students choose a plant species and prepare the leaves to be treated with the solvents, then they perform the necessary technical procedures for the separation of pigments and determine qualitatively and quantitatively the pigments present in the leaves. Students have to write down their hypothesis.
Lesson 3: Research
Duration: 2 lessons
TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) and UV / VIS spectroscopy are used to determine the main pigments presents in the chosen leaves and their concentration.
Lesson 4: Data analysis
Duration: 1 lesson
The students compare and analyze the obtained data and interpret the results.
Evaluation
The evaluation happens on different levels.
1. Method adherence: We check if students followed the scientific method correctly, including hypothesis formulation, experimental design, and data collection procedures.
2. Data analysis: We assess the quality of collected data and students’ ability to analyze it accurately, identifying patterns and drawing valid conclusions.
3. Critical thinking: We evaluate students’ ability to think critically about their experiment, identifying potential errors or sources of uncertainty, and proposing improvements.
4. Scientific communication: We evaluate students’ communication skills in presenting their experiment clearly, interpreting findings, and supporting conclusions with appropriate arguments and evidence.
5. Collaboration: We assess students’ collaboration skills, including communication, task division, and constructive teamwork.
6. Reflection: We encourage students to reflect on their learning experiences, identifying lessons learned, challenges faced, and strategies for improving future experiments.
By assessing these aspects, teachers can gain insight into both the scientific and learning outcomes of the project, enabling targeted feedback to enhance students’ learning experience.
2. Outcomes (for you as an educator and for the students)
When we implemented this learning scenario, we aimed for several important outcomes:
Outcome for Students
The lessons have the following general aims:
- Define and apply the operational sequence of the expected analytical method;
- Report individual and group activities and present the results of an analysis;
- Elaborate the results of the experimental investigations, also with the use of dedicated software;
- Use the necessary structures and terminology to define, operate and report activities in English.
Outcome for Teachers
Encourage students to think critical on their procedure and their results.
Link to the learning scenario implemented: From the photon to the leaf (LS-IT-15) – Teaching With Europeana (eun.org)
Do you want to discover more stories of implementation? Click here.
CC BY 4.0: the featured image used to illustrate this article has been found on Europeana and has been provided by the Wellcome Collection.