Exploring the World of Plants:
An Internet Based Activity

The Great Plant Escape
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case1/case1.html
Click on the link. Complete the sections, "Introduction" and "Facts of the Case" and then particpate in Mystery #1 and Mystery #2. Record your answers to these mysteries on your answer sheet.

Photosynthesis
Read this introduction to photosynthesis and answer the questions.
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/photosyn.htm

1. What is photosynthesis?
2. What organelle within a plant cell controls photosynthesis?
3. Why does chlorophyll look green?

Fall Leaves
Visit this website about fall leaves:
http://slisweb.lis.wisc.edu/~heather/fall.html

1. What does Native American legend credit the change of leaves in the fall to?
2. What is the name of the pigment in leaves that makes them red?
3. What type of tree contains the pigment tannins and turns brown in the fall?
4. What region of the United States is best to view the fall leaves in? Why is this so?

Mexican Jumping Beans
Read this article about the Mexican Jumping Bean
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plaug97.htm

1. What type of plant does the Mexican Jumping Bean come from?
2. What causes the beans to jump?

Virtual Plant Cell
Explore how photosynthesis works at:
http://www.ftexploring.com/photosyn/chloroplast.html

Find the descriptions of thylakoids on the page - write down at least three interesting facts about thylakoids and how they help with the process of photosynthesis.

Click here for the worksheet for this activity.