1. Plant Cells and Photosynthesis
Yes, it IS your lucky day…

2. Cells! Cells! Cells!
Living things are made of trillions of small units called cells
Cells are the smallest living thing
Some organisms (like bacteria) are only one cell
Plants, animals, and fungi are all multi-cellular

3. Cell Structure Plant, animal, and fungi cells contain organelles
Organelles are small organs that perform various tasks
Each organelle is vital to overall cell function

4. Plant vs. Animal Cells Plant and Animal Cells differ in three ways:
Plant cells have cell walls
Plant cells have large vacuoles
Plant cells have chloroplasts

5. Important Organelles
Nucleus: contains DNA (blueprint for building plant)
Chloroplast: performs photosynthesis
Mitochondria: turns sugar into energy for growth
Cell membrane: controls what enters and exits cell
Cell wall: provides structural support
Vacuole: for water storage
Ribosomes: make proteins for structure and to help with chemical reactions

6. The Mighty Plant Cell

7. PHOTOSYNTHESIS!

8. What is Photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is how plants use light energy to convert CO2 and H2O into glucose and O2
The goal of photosynthesis is for the plant to make sugar for itself

9. What is Photosynthesis?
The sugar (glucose) is used by the plant as energy to grow
Sugar is converted to ATP (energy) through cellular respiration in mitochondria
The O2 is given off as a waste product!

10. The Photosynthesis Equation

11. Where Does Photosynthesis Happen?
Plant leaf cells:
- In chloroplasts, which are organelles inside the cells
- A molecule called chlorophyll inside of the chloroplasts captures the sun’s energy