What is photosynthesis? micro-lesson

Photosynthesis is the name used to describe plants creating their own food. It all starts from sunlight. Leaves have a special substance on them called chlorophyll which helps them absorb the sunlight. Then, the plant takes in water and carbon dioxide from the air around us and also the roots in the soil. Inside the plant, the plant mixes together the sunlight, the water, and the carbon dioxide to make a sticky sugary substance called glucose. Glucose then gives the plant energy, a lot like when humans eat food to give us energy. Once that's finished, the plant then releases oxygen which helps humans to breathe. In this diagram, you can see the water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight going into the plant and the oxygen coming back out of the plant. Photosynthesis is one of the most important reasons why we need to give plants sun and water.