Name:
PT 9.1: Carbon Cycle
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Learning Targets
(HS-LS2-5) Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
(HS-ESS2-6) I can develop a model to describe the cycling of carbon among the biosphere,
atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
Guiding Question
How does carbon cycle through earth’s systems?
Task 1 - Carbon Cycle
DIRECTIONS: Watch this video about the carbon cycle and answer the questions below.
Question Answer
1. Carbon is the ___________ ___________ of all life on Earth. Chemical
backbone
2. TRUE/FALSE: The amount of carbon on Earth has changed over time. False
3. In what form is carbon found in the atmosphere? Carbon dioxide
4. The carbon cycle is nature's way of ___________ carbon atoms. Reusing
5. Where is most carbon stored? In rock and
sediment
6. The ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms are considered what in Carbon sink
the carbon cycle?
7. Sometimes dead organisms become ___________ that goes through Fossil fuel,
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___________, giving off CO2. combustion
Task 2 - Carbon Pools and Carbon Fluxes
DIRECTIONS: Look at the diagram below and answer the questions.
● The blue font shows examples of different carbon pools.
● The red font and red arrows show the directions that carbon fluxes between the pools.
1. Based on the diagram, which carbon pool has the most petagrams of carbon?
Earth's crust
2. Based on the diagram, which carbon pool has the least petagrams of carbon?
Plants
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3. How many petagrams of carbon does the intermediate and deep ocean contain?
37,275
4. For the following table, choose 3 different areas on the diagram where carbon is fluxing.
State what direction the carbon is fluxing and the reason for the flux.
Which direction is carbon fluxing?
Example: Carbon is fluxing from the surface ocean to the atmosphere due to ocean loss.
a. Carbon is fluxing the volcano to the atmosphere.
b. Carbon is flexing from the soil to the atmosphere
c. Carbon is flexing from the coal loss to the atmosphere
5. What do carbon pools and carbon fluxes tell us?
Carbon pools absorb or release carbon. Carbon fles is the amount of carbon
exchanged between carbon pools.
6. Label the parts of the carbon cycle from the diagram below.
A Atmosphere
B Energy
C Oxygen
D Oxygen
E death/decay
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F Anaimal respiration
G Fossil fuel
H Factory emission
7. Explain the difference between a carbon pool and a carbon sink.
Carbon pool is able to absorb or realse carbon dioxide. A carbon sink removes carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
8. Scientists state that melting glaciers are exposing long frozen organisms. What effect on
Earth will occur when the ice melts and the organisms begin to thaw and decompose?
As the earth warms ice glaciers are melting causing animals that live there to die.
Losses in habitat, food sources disapearing, and there will be more Co2 produced in th
air than earth has used to.
9. Large areas of land are being developed. In the process thousands of trees are being
removed and burned. How would this affect the carbon cycle?
THis increases the carbon in the atmosphere.
10. Describe how a carbon atom in a fox can end up in a tree.
When a fox dies it decomposes which releses carbon into the soil.
11. What part of the carbon cycle removes carbon dioxide from the air?
Phototsysthesis removes Co2 and switches it with O2
12. What happens to the carbon atoms released during respiration?
Teh carbon atoms end up in the ATP molecules
13. Explain why decomposers are an important part of the carbon cycle.
Decomposers break down natural materials into Co2 as well as water into nutrients
for producers.
Task 3 - Carbon Molecule Data
DIRECTIONS: For this task, you will take on the role of a carbon molecule. As a carbon
molecule, you will be traveling to different places and observing how carbon moves between
different spheres of Earth. You will record your travels as journal entries.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: YOU ARE THE TRAVELING CARBON! You will travel
between the following spheres:
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Biosphere: All living things (plants, animals, insects, etc..)
Atmosphere: Gas in the air (oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc..)
Hydrosphere: All water on the planet (lakes, rivers, oceans, etc..)
Lithosphere: Rocks, soils, dirt, etc..
Procedure:
1. Roll the dice. This number determines which station you will begin at.
○ This will simulate in which direction you will flux as a carbon molecule.
2. Once you are at your first station, roll the dice again and look at the document at your
station. On this document you will find information that will tell you what happens next
as you move through the carbon cycle.
3. Fill out Journal Entry #1 on your document.
4. Roll the dice again, move to the next station, and fill out the next journal entry.
5. Repeat for a total of 5 times.
**Complete TASK 3 in person and turn into your teacher.**
Teacher signature: Corey
Task 4 - Carbon Cycle Model & Writing Prompt
Now that you have looked at some carbon data and pretended to be a carbon molecule, you
will now develop your own diagram of an environment with cycling carbon.
PART 1 DIRECTIONS: Task 4 is on google classroom as a google slides assignment.
Once you complete this task online, then you can complete the writing prompt below:
PART 2 DIRECTIONS: Based on your carbon cycle poster, write a paragraph (5-7 sentences)
answering the following question:
How does carbon cycle through earth’s systems?
During the carbon cycle, carbon atoms travel from the atmosphere to living organisms on
earth, where they are recycled over and over again. Most carbon is stored into rocks,
sediments and oceans, while the rest is stored in the atmosphere and oceans. Carbon is
constantly cycled through the 4 spheres of Earth. The four steps of the carbon cycle such as
photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion. Carbon can be cycled as a gas
in air or a molecule in water.
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MASTERY RUBRIC AND COMPLETION CHECKLIST
Learning Target
(HS-LS2-5) Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
(HS-ESS2-6) I can develop a model to describe the cycling of carbon among the biosphere,
atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
Guiding Question
How does carbon cycle through earth’s systems?
1 Concerns (2) Goal Achieved (3) Exceeded Mastery (4)
(Similar to a C) (Similar to a B or B+) (Similar to an A or A+)
A score of 2 means 1) Topic and Content ❏ Answered the challenge
you did everything My argument has a question?
❏ Real-world examples or
you were supposed knowledgeable and
applications used not from the
to but your answer thoughtful response to class activity.
may have used some the learning target(s) ❏ Score 80% or above on the Unit
vocabulary and guiding question(s). quiz.
incorrectly or your ❏ Supported my argument with
use of evidence was 2) Use of Evidence and information that was not
provided in class and cited
unclear or missing Analysis
correctly.
some important My argument is ❏ Used all score 4 vocabulary.
details. supported by
information from the You need at least 3 boxes
provided class resources checked from the above
and class activities. boxes to have a chance at
earning a grade of 4 if you
got a 3 on everything else.
IMPORTANT! Any information used that is NOT learned from class MUST be cited or you will have to
redo the assignment! You must use YOUR OWN WORDS.
Required Vocabulary: If you do not use ALL of the Score 2 words you will get NO CREDIT.
Score 2 Words Score 3 Words Score 4 Words
● Carbon Cycle ● Carbon Cycle ● Carbon Cycle
● Biosphere ● Biosphere ● Biosphere
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● Atmosphere ● Atmosphere ● Atmosphere
● Hydrosphere ● Hydrosphere ● Hydrosphere
● Lithosphere ● Lithosphere ● Lithosphere
● Carbon Flux ● Carbon Flux
● Carbon pool ● Carbon pool
● Carbon sink ● Carbon sink
● Fossil Fuels ● Fossil Fuels
● Photosynthesis
● Respiration
● Decomposition
● Combustion
