It was a nice, sunny day. Ruby the rabbit wanted to ask Taylor the tulip to play. 

"Hi Taylor," said Ruby. 

"AHHHH, no stay away rabbit," shouted Taylor. 

"What? Why?" asked Ruby. 

"Because you're a rabbit! You eat plants!" terrified Taylor replied. 

"I wouldn't eat you. I need you to survive; you help me live," said Ruby. 

"How do I help you live?" asked Taylor. 

"Through the process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Come on, I'll show you!" replied Ruby. 

"Hi Scientist Eric," said Ruby.

"Hello girls, what brings you in today?" asked Eric. 

"Taylor here is scared to play with me because I am an animal, and she is a plant. I want you to help me explain photosynthesis and cellular respiration. This way she will understand that we need each other to live," explained Ruby. 

"Ruby is right Taylor. I'll help show you what she is talking about," said Eric. 

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are both ways plants, animals, or humans make energy. Lets take a closer look on how they work. 

Photosynthesis

CO2

Light Energy 

Carbon Dioxide

H2O

Water

Reactants

C6H12O6

O2

Glucose (sugar)

Oxygen

Products

Chlorophyll (In cell) 

6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy        C6H12O6 + 6O2

Cellular Respiration

CO2

H2O

Water

Carbon Dioxide

Energy

C6H12O6

O2

Glucose

Oxygen

Cytoplasm  

Mitochondria (In Cell)

ATP 

Reactants

Products

C6H12O6 + 6O2      6CO2 + 6H20 + ATP Energy   

"I know that is a lot of information. Let me break it down some more." 

Plants that are autotrophs need to create their own  food. They do this through photosynthesis. When plants take in light energy through the chlorophyll, the chloroplast is converting it to chemical energy. Together, the chemical energy, carbon dioxide, and water create food. During the process, oxygen is also created and that is released in the air 

When humans or animals eat plants or meat, we store ATP energy. To create ATP, our bodies go through the process of cellular respiration. The first step is glycolysis which takes place in the cytoplasm. Glucose is being broken down. This step is anaerobic because it takes place in the absence of oxygen. However, the next step is aerobic because oxygen is used. In the mitochondria, the broken down pieces are taken to make a lot of ATP energy.  Carbon dioxide and water are released out of the cell.