High School Life Science
Photosynthesis and Respiration in a Closed System
A sealed bag where algae and brine shrimp keep each other alive.
Students seal algae and brine shrimp in one bag and track what happens. Algae make oxygen and food in the light. The shrimp use both, and give back carbon dioxide.
How the lab meets it
What students do that satisfies the standard
NGSS HS-LS1-5
Standard: Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.
What the kit does: Students measure algae growth and oxygen in the light, then connect it to a model of photosynthesis.
NGSS HS-LS1-7
Standard: Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed resulting in a net transfer of energy.
What the kit does: Students watch the shrimp breathe and eat inside the sealed bag and model where the energy goes.
CA Living Earth
Where it fits: Instructional Segment 2 anchors on a sealed sphere of algae and brine shrimp.
What the kit does: A Brainy Briny Beaker Bag is that sealed system, built in your classroom.
AP Biology
Where it fits: Investigation 5, Photosynthesis.
What the kit does: Algae Beads let students measure photosynthesis rate under different light.
Free downloads
Our Lesson Plans
Photosynthesis and Respiration in a Closed System
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Algae Beads: Seven Lessons for High School
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Photosynthesis vs Irradiance
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General Instructions
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Kits for these lessons
Algae Beads: Make Your Own FULL KIT