Investigation

Cell Energy

Every living thing on Earth runs on energy captured from the Sun. Explore how cells collect that energy, store it in glucose, and release it as the fuel of life, one step at a time.

Photosynthesis · Cellular Respiration · The Energy Cycle

🔬 Learning Science Focus Phenomenon-First Dual Coding Productive Exploration Systems Thinking

📋 MA STE Standards · Grade 6–8 6.MS-LS1-2 8.MS-LS1-7 MS-LS2-3 SEP-2 SEP-6

Before You Begin

Read this first, then investigate

This is a four-step investigation into how cells capture, store, and release energy. Complete each step in order, each one builds on the last.

Common Misconception

Plants do not "eat" food; they make food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. And both plants and animals use cellular respiration to release the energy stored inside glucose. These are two different processes; and they are deeply connected.

What is this investigation about?

You will explore how cells capture energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, store it in glucose, and then release that energy through cellular respiration, the process that powers everything living things do.

Why does this matter?

Every bite of food you eat traces back to photosynthesis. Matter cycles endlessly, the carbon in your cells was once CO₂ in the air. Energy flows one way: from sunlight, through glucose, into everything alive.

What will I actually do?

You will explore living cells, run a photosynthesis lab, power up a mitochondrion, and finally see the full energy cycle, all connected into one living system.

How do I move through it?

Each phase unlocks automatically when you complete the previous one. You must answer a short checkpoint question to advance. There is no timer: explore at your own pace.

① Explore Cell

② Photosynthesis

③ Respiration

④ Energy Cycle

⑤ Quiz

Phase 1

Explore the Cell

Click on organelles to reveal what they do. Discover the chloroplast and mitochondria, the two energy-handling organelles at the heart of this investigation. You must find all key organelles to advance.

Key Organelles to Discover

NUC

Nucleus

MEM

Cell Membrane

MIT

Mitochondria

CHL

Chloroplast

Plant Only

0 / 4 discovered, click organelles to explore

Phase 1 Checkpoint

What did you discover?

Which organelle captures energy from sunlight to make food for the cell?

Phase 2

Photosynthesis Lab

Adjust the three inputs and watch the chloroplast respond in real time. Try dragging one slider very low while keeping the others high, what happens to glucose production?

Inputs

Sunlight 65%

Water 70%

Carbon Dioxide 60%

Limiting Factor

Balanced

All inputs are adequate, running near peak efficiency.

Outputs

Glucose

Oxygen

Activity

Phase 2 Checkpoint

What did you discover?

What happens to glucose production when water drops very low, even if sunlight and CO₂ are both high?

Phase 3

Respiration Engine

Adjust oxygen and glucose levels and watch the mitochondrion activate. Try cutting off oxygen completely, what happens to ATP output?

→ The glucose produced in Phase 2 is now the fuel here. The oxygen released in Phase 2 is now the reactant here. Photosynthesis and respiration are the same cycle, running in two directions.

Inputs

Glucose 65%

Oxygen 70%

Status

Active

Mitochondrion is generating ATP efficiently.

Outputs

ATP

CO₂ out

H₂O out

Heat

Phase 3 Checkpoint

What did you discover?

What happens to ATP production when oxygen drops to zero, even if glucose is still available?

Phase 4

The Energy Cycle

Now watch the full system. Every piece from the previous phases is connected here. Adjust environmental conditions and discover what happens when any part of the cycle is disrupted.

↻ Sunlight powers the chloroplast. The chloroplast fills the glucose store. Glucose fuels the mitochondria. The mitochondria produce ATP. ATP powers life; and releases heat. Disrupt any step, and the whole system feels it.

Speed

Environmental Controls

Sunlight75%

Water75%

Carbon Dioxide70%

Oxygen72%

System Meters

Health

75%

Glucose

50%

Photo

ATP out

Observations

Adjust sliders to observe how the system responds.

Phase 4 Checkpoint, Final Investigation Question

Systems thinking

A plant is kept in complete darkness for several days. What will eventually happen to cellular respiration in that plant?

Next Step

Choose Your Mode

Switch to Classroom Mode to unlock the quiz and submit your work to your teacher.

Practice Mode keeps the quiz locked. Classroom Mode unlocks the quiz and teacher submission.

Phase 5

Check Your Understanding

You have explored cells, run a photosynthesis lab, powered a mitochondrion, and seen the full energy cycle. Answer these questions to show what you discovered.