It is possible to create an environment in which students are engaged in learning a topic like photosynthesis but are not doing a laboratory activity? Is there some way for students to get content and the history of a topic without a lecture? The activity described in this article is a result of the author asking these very questions. Several assumptions are behind this activity lesson. First, that knowledge is socially and individually constructed, that discussion among students is necessary for students to work out their own understanding, and that a more knowledgeable other is needed to facilitate learning. Second, that students can be engaged in inquiry without being involved in a firsthand investigation of real phenomena. Students leave this lesson having learned the facts about photosynthesis. They readily understand that green plants cannot live without water and air. They also piece together that air is a combination of many gases including carbon dioxide, and if hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide, glucose can be made. This activity is not intended to replace all firsthand investigations, but is a suggestion of how to turn the learning over to students. This activity usually takes 35-40 minutes for students to develop an answer that they can support with data and 15 minutes for group presentations.