Photosynthesis Ins and Outs

Sharpen students’ grasp of the photosynthesis reaction with this quick Science Spotlight on what goes in and what comes out. Learners read four short scenarios, name the molecule involved — carbon dioxide, water, glucose, or oxygen — and then sort it as a reactant (goes in) or a product (comes out).

The sheet uses the accepted terms up front, reactant and product, and pairs each with plain “goes in / comes out” language so the vocabulary is accessible without being watered down. The science stays exact: carbon dioxide and water are the reactants, glucose and oxygen are the products — the real chemistry of photosynthesis, not an approximation.

The word bank supplies the four fill-in answers, with definitions that reveal each clue: a gas taken in from the air, a liquid taken up by the roots, a sugar the plant makes, and a gas the plant releases. Every card’s underline task points to the evidence, so students reason rather than guess. A clean answer key shows the molecule, the correct choice, and the clue in red.

Built for grades 5–8, aligned to NGSS MS-LS1-6 (matter and energy in photosynthesis) and supporting MS-LS1-2, this pairs perfectly with a lesson on where photosynthesis happens. Just print and teach.