Starch

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/starch

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical structure?A polymer of glucose units, primarily composed of amylose and amylopectin
2. What is the primary role in plants?Energy storage molecule
3. Where does starch come from?Starch comes from plants such as wheat, rice, corn, potatoes, and beans. Plants make starch to keep energy for their growth and reproduction.
4. How does our body use starch?When we eat starch, enzymes in our mouth and stomach break it into glucose. Glucose goes into our blood and gives us energy or is stored for later.

Polysaccharide: A complex carbohydrate formed by the linkage of many monosaccharide units.
Glycosidic Bond: A type of covalent bond that links a carbohydrate molecule to another group.
Glycolysis: The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, releasing energy.