{"product_id":"leaf-disc-photosynthesis-differentiated-biology-high-school-inquiry-lab-carbon-and-energy-cycling","title":"Leaf Disc Photosynthesis Differentiated Biology High School Inquiry Lab Carbon and Energy Cycling","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYour students are about to watch photosynthesis happen in real time.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this floating leaf disc lab, students pull the air out of spinach discs, drop them in sodium bicarbonate solution, and time how fast they rise as oxygen builds up inside the leaf. Faster floating means faster photosynthesis, and students will have actual data to measure the rate. It's hands-on, a little bit magical, and it runs on spinach, baking soda, and a light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Students Investigate\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudents test how \u003cstrong\u003ecarbon dioxide concentration\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003etemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e affect the rate of photosynthesis. Then they use their data to write a CER and build a lab poster. You can test both variables in one class or split them across three classes. Both setups are mapped out for you. This lab is part of my \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"%20https:\/\/shop.keystonesciencepa.com\/products\/ngss-biology-climate-change-unit-human-impacts-photosynthesis-carbon-cycle?utm_source=tou\u0026amp;utm_medium=referral\u0026amp;utm_campaign=leafdisclabwebstoredescription\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003efull unit on Climate Change\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e where students investigate if planting more trees can solve the current climate crisis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOne Lab, Three Levels\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery student runs the same experiment, so your whole class can compare data during the gallery walk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHonors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Null and directional hypotheses, t-test analysis, and a design-your-own experiment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcademic:\u003c\/strong\u003e ET50 analysis, graphing, and a group CER\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScaffolded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Visual lab overview, vocabulary table, checklist procedure, pre-numbered graph, and CER sentence frames\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat's Included\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e8-page teacher guide with lesson plans for two 45-minute class periods, a full supply list, solution recipes, troubleshooting tips, and grading notes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHonors, Academic, and Scaffolded student handouts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLab poster rubrics for Honors and Academic\/Scaffolded\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLab day PowerPoint with procedures for sinking the leaf discs, safety reminders, and a lab cleanup checklist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 Excel templates: class data, group data, and sample data (in case your spinach has an off day)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStandards Alignment\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNGSS HS-LS1-5:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSEPs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Developing and Using Models, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Constructing Explanations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCCCs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Energy and Matter, Cause and Effect\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePerfect For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh school biology, AP Biology prep, and environmental science\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhotosynthesis and cell energy units\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClimate change units (this lab is part of the \u003ca href=\"%20https:\/\/shop.keystonesciencepa.com\/products\/ngss-biology-climate-change-unit-human-impacts-photosynthesis-carbon-cycle?utm_source=tou\u0026amp;utm_medium=referral\u0026amp;utm_campaign=leafdisclabwebstoredescription\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eKeystone Science Unit 6 Climate Change\u003c\/a\u003e curriculum, but it works in any biology course)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWant the full story?\u003c\/strong\u003e Pair this lab with the \u003ca href=\"%20https:\/\/shop.keystonesciencepa.com\/products\/ngss-biology-climate-change-unit-human-impacts-photosynthesis-carbon-cycle?utm_source=tou\u0026amp;utm_medium=referral\u0026amp;utm_campaign=leafdisclabwebstoredescription\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNGSS Biology Climate Change Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e to help students answer the big question: can planting more trees solve climate change?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-top: 129.4118%; padding-bottom: 0; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px 0 rgba(63,69,81,0.16); margin-top: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 8px; will-change: transform;\"\u003e\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0; left: 0; border: none; padding: 0; margin: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/design\/DAHXFC60BBY\/qdO0xY3xWvdVJoNAzOOHOw\/view?embed\"\u003e\n  \u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/design\/DAHXFC60BBY\/qdO0xY3xWvdVJoNAzOOHOw\/view?utm_content=DAHXFC60BBY\u0026amp;utm_campaign=designshare\u0026amp;utm_medium=embeds\u0026amp;utm_source=link\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLeaf Disc Lab Preview\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Keystone Science","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67628046123322,"sku":null,"price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0701\/4341\/0490\/files\/Leafdisclabcover-oct2026.jpg?v=1791150464","url":"https:\/\/keystone-science.myshopify.com\/products\/leaf-disc-photosynthesis-differentiated-biology-high-school-inquiry-lab-carbon-and-energy-cycling","provider":"Keystone Science","version":"1.0","type":"link"}