🌱 Part 1: How Plants Make Food

What is photosynthesis?

Plants are amazing! They can make their own food. This is called photosynthesis. Plants use sunlight, water, and air to make sugar food inside their leaves.

What do plants need to make food?

Plants need three things:

• Sunlight - from the sun

• Water - from their roots

• Carbon dioxide - a gas from the air

What happens when plants don't get enough?

Sometimes plants can't get enough sunlight, water, or air. When this happens, they can't make as much food. We call this a limiting factor - it's like when you can't make a sandwich because you've run out of bread!

🔬 Part 2: Testing for Plant Food

How do we know plants made food?

Plants store their food as starch in their leaves. Scientists use a special liquid called iodine to test for starch. When iodine touches starch, it turns dark blue or black - like magic!

What happens in the test?

• If a leaf has lots of starch (food), it turns dark with iodine

• If a leaf has no starch, it stays light coloured