Photosynthesis Mania!! A Fun & Engaging Board Game for the Biology, Honors Biology, or AP Biology Classroom

Photosynthesis Mania!!

I developed this game over 20 years ago and it has stood the test of time in my classroom!! It continues to be a student favorite even in the technological classroom! It is also super easy and inexpensive to make! I have utilized this game at all levels of biology including Life Science (7^th grade level), High School Biology, and AP/Honors Biology.

Before playing Photosynthesis Mania, my students learn about the light (light-dependent) and dark (light-independent) reactions of photosynthesis. As you read through all 48 cards, you will see that the level of difficulty ranges from very basic to advanced. The advanced cards are located on the first two pages of the question cards. These cards can be easily removed from the game. Questions can also be easily added to the game as they have been created using Microsoft Word.

Photosynthesis Mania works great with groups of four students. This game is structured enough that student groups are completely self-sufficient meaning they won’t need a lot (if any) input/interaction from the teacher so you will be free to get grading or other tasks done during class time! The best thing about Photosynthesis Mania…….it is original. Because students haven’t played it a million times, they will find it engaging, challenging, competitive, and fun. My students absolutely love Photosynthesis Mania!

Topics Covered:

• Light-dependent and Light-independent Reactions (products, reactants, and location)
• Chloroplast anatomy and pigments
• Basic Chemical formulas of products and reactants
• Energy-Storing Molecules (ATP/ADP) and (NADPH/NADP+)

Example of a high-level question: “Name one source of H+ ions that build up in the lumen of the chloroplast. Answer: Some are pumped by proteins embedded in the thylakoid membrane; some are generated by the splitting of water.”

Example of a basic question: “What is the green pigment in plants called? Answer: Chlorophyll.”                                               

Materials to Purchase

• Poster board (4)
• 1 dice per group
• 4 plastic game pieces per group
• Colored paper (optional)

Materials Included:

• Directions
• Question Cards
• Labels for Poster board