Download Unit 1, Lesson 2 highlights: What is the Role of Producers in an

Producers: They are the organisms in an ecosystem that make
their own food.
Note: They’re usually plants. Most producers get matter for their growth
from the non-living things in their ecosystem. Example: They make food
out of sunlight, via photosynthesis. Amazing.
Did Someone Say Photosynthesis?
 Photosynthesis: the process of using carbon
dioxide and water to make food. The sun plays a
major part in the process as well.
 Note: In the end, virtually all energy/food starts
with, and comes from, the beloved SUN.
Photosynthesis Produces Waste
(the good kind, though):
 Photosynthesis: put in math terms, it looks like…
carbon dioxide + water + light ―› sugar + oxygen
Note: Sugar is not waste, but oxygen is (to plants).
Therefore, plants release the extra oxygen in the air.
Guess what humans like to breathe… OXYGEN.
So Photosynthesis is good, for
many reasons:
 It helps…
 give us oxygen,
 clean the air,
 give plants food.
 SO PHOTOSYNTHESIS IS GOOD.
NOT SO GOOD.
BACK TO GOOD. (Synthesize that
photo.)
WHERE THE MATTER IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS
COMES FROM…
 It comes from carbon dioxide in the air. (fairly recent
discovery)
CO2
 And it comes from water, too. (discovered in the
1600’s)
H2O
 Mr. Finch remembers the 1600’s. Such good times.
Plants Can Store Excess Food.
 When plants have no leaves, or it’s dark, they can
store any extra food that they previously
produced. (Hey, I see why they’re called
producers.)
Buh-dee, Buh-dee, Buh-dee; that’s
all folks!
Hey, I’m a
consumer, not a
producer. Silly.