Primary source

Imagine being a secret helper for every green leaf and every blade of grass. I am like a tiny chef hiding inside a plant. I take big sips of water from the ground with my roots, I take a deep breath of the air you breathe out, and I soak up all the warm, sunny rays. I have a special name, but you see my work everywhere you look. You see it in the tall, green trees and the sweet, red strawberries.

Are you ready to learn my name. I am Photosynthesis. It’s a big, big word, but what I do is simple and fun. I mix the water, the air, and the sunshine all together to make a sugary snack for the plant. It’s just like baking a yummy cupcake, but my cupcakes are for flowers and trees. This special food helps them grow big and strong. It helps them make crunchy apples and stretch their leafy branches way up to the sky. A long, long time ago, people started to figure out my secret. A man named Joseph Priestley on August 1st, 1774, and another named Jan Ingenhousz in 1779, saw that plants were doing something magical with sunlight. They discovered my super-secret recipe.

After I make the yummy food for the plant, I have a very special gift left over just for you. It’s a secret surprise. I release fresh, clean air for you to breathe in. Whee. Every time you run and play in the park or lie down under a big, shady tree, you can say thank you to me. I give you the clean air that fills up your lungs and helps you play. I work quietly all day long, painting the world a beautiful green color and making sure there are tasty vegetables to eat and lots of fresh air for everyone. I am the happy reason our world is so full of life and color.