This activity explores images of a sea slug and chloroplasts, which serve as phenomena for learning about photosynthesis.

The sea slug Elysia crispata feeds on green algae and can survive for more than a month without eating. This is because the slug stores and uses the algae’s chloroplasts, which capture energy from sunlight and convert it to chemical energy through photosynthesis. These images include a photograph of an E. crispata sea slug and a micrograph of liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) plant cells packed with chloroplasts (colored yellow).

The “Educator Materials” document includes background information and implementation suggestions for using the images as phenomena. The “Student Handout” includes the images and background information.

“Slug Power/Sea Slug” image by Patrick J. Krug, Cal State University

“Solar Fix/Chloroplast” image by Fernan Federici, Universidad Católica de Chile