Algae, often overlooked, are vital organisms in our ecosystem that play an indispensable role. Teaching students about algae not only introduces them to a fascinating world of micro-organisms, but also reinforces their understanding of plants’ basic principles. This article aims to guide educators in teaching about algae as plants.

The first step in teaching students about algae is to clarify what algae are. While the term algae refer to a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms, for the purpose of this educational module we will define them broadly as aquatic plant-like organisms. They range from unicellular beings like microalgae to large multicellular ones such as seaweeds.

Algae, like land plants, carry out photosynthesis. They convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy while releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. These processes should already be familiar to students, providing a natural link to previously understood material. Their colorful appearances – green, red or brown – are also a result of chlorophyll and other pigments that facilitate photosynthesis, another characteristic shared with traditional plants.

The next step is tying algae’s contribution to the ecosystem with already existing knowledge in students’ minds. Just as many land animals rely on trees and plants for shelter and food, aquatic species depend on algae for similar reasons. A fantastic example would be phytoplankton – tiny algae floating near the ocean surfaces which contribute approximately 50% of the planet’s oxygen!

Apart from ecology, at a cellular level too, similarities can be spotted between land plants and algae. Consideration of cell structure would enable students to see how vast yet fundamentally coherent living beings are.

Some crucial differences do exist between algae and terrestrial plants which would help create a comprehensive understanding among students. Unlike customary land plants, most algae don’t have roots, stems or leaves; nor do they always have the ‘vascular tissue’ (xylem and phloem) necessary for water and nutrient movement within the organism.

One interesting point worth emphasizing is how evolutionarily ancient these organisms are–spanning back billions of years–and how they have eventually given rise to higher forms of plant life on land.

To sum up, teaching students about algae can enrich lessons on plants by giving students a broader view of what counts as a ‘plant.’ Through hands-on activities like observing live algal specimens under microscopes or growing them in class aquariums, educators can provide tangibility to these lessons making them both educational and fun.

Thus presents an overview of teaching about algae as plants; it’s an exercise through which educators can inspire curiosity and develop scientific understanding among young learners while busting myths about what constitutes plant life.