Science · Stage 6

How Plants Make Their Own Food

Peek inside a green leaf to see how it catches sunlight, drinks up water, breathes in air — and cooks its very own food out of light!

✦ Science📘 Stage 6 · S6⏱ ~12 min🧒 Ages 10–12★ Free to start

I can explain photosynthesis.

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Kavi and the Sunflower's Secret

Kavi leans against a sunflower 🌻 that is taller than the fence. "You have never once eaten lunch — so how did you get SO big and strong?" The leaves glow in the sunshine. "Aha — your green leaves are tiny kitchens! You catch sunlight ☀️, sip water 💧 up from your roots, breathe in air 💨, and cook your own food out of pure light. Come and discover how green plants feed the whole world with me!"

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What your child will learn

1Inside a leaf: the Sun-powered kitchenEvery green leaf is a tiny food factory. Tap each part to see the job it does when the plant makes its food.

2Needed to make food, or made by it?Photosynthesis uses some things up and makes new things. Tap the right box for each one!

3Two opposite jobs: storing vs using energyA plant does two things with energy. Tap each card to compare them.

4Guess first, then check!Good scientists predict, then test. Pick your guess, then tap to check! Tap Next test for more.

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A peek inside

Kavi points at a tall green plant on the windowsill 🪴. "Nobody ever feeds it — so how does it get the food it needs to grow?"

Its green leaves hold chlorophyll, which captures sunlight. The plant takes in carbon dioxide through its stomata and water from its roots, and uses the light energy to join them into glucose — its own food. Oxygen is given out.

Try this at home: Which green pigment captures light energy inside a leaf?

Ready to play and learn?

Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.

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Part of Science · Stage 6 · S6 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.