PDF The Carbon Cycle

District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education

The Carbon Cycle

High School Environmental Science Instructional Sequence

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This high school environmental science instructional sequence was created to support teaching the Next Generation Science Standards through the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) 5E instructional model. Developed by District of Columbia teachers, these lessons include real-world

contexts for learning about environmental science through a lens that encourages student investigation of local issues.

The lessons also support Scope and Sequence documents used by District local education agencies: Unit 1: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics Advisory 1 and 2 Acknowledgements: Charlene Cummings, District of Columbia International School This curriculum resource can be downloaded online:

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Overview and Goal of the Lesson: In this sequence of lessons, students will go into depth via investigations about what processes drive the carbon cycle. Students are first introduced to the carbon cycle in an interactive game that triggers prior knowledge and touches on how carbon moves through Earth's interconnected spheres. Students then investigate and gather evidence of the carbon transformation that carbon atoms encounter throughout the cycle. Since carbon is seen in students' everyday lives, they will calculate their carbon footprint, calculate ways to deduct their carbon footprint, and trace carbon interaction throughout a typical school day.

Essential Question(s): How are the cycles of matter and energy transferred in ecosystems? What processes drive the carbon cycle?

NGSS Emphasized and Addressed in this Lesson Sequence: Carbon Cycle

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PRACTICES

DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEAS

CROSSCUTTING CONCEPTS

HS-LS2-3. Construct and

Developing and Using Models LS2.B. Cycles of Matter and

revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

? Modeling in 9?12 builds

Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

on K?8 experiences and

? Photosynthesis and cellular

progresses to using,

respiration are important

synthesizing, and developing components of the carbon

models to predict and show cycle, in which carbon is

HS-LS2-5. Develop a model

how relationships among

exchanged among the

to illustrate the role of

variables between systems

biosphere, atmosphere,

photosynthesis and cellular

and their components in

oceans, and geosphere

respiration in the cycling of

the natural and designed

through chemical, physical,

carbon among the biosphere, worlds.

geological, and biological

atmosphere, hydrosphere, and ? Develop a model based

geosphere.

on evidence to illustrate

processes. PS3.D. Energy in Chemical

the relationships between Processes

systems or components of a ? The main way that solar

system.

energy is captured and

stored on Earth is through

the complex chemical

process known as

photosynthesis.

Systems and System Models ? Models (e.g., physical,

mathematical, computer model) can be used to simulate systems and interactions - including energy, matter, and information flows-within and between systems at different scales. Evidence is required to differentiate between cause and correlation and make claims about specific causes and effects.

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Materials

ITEM

Dice Station Signs Station Movement Directions (before) Station Movement Directions (after) Data Record Sheets Carbon Cycle Game Discussion Questions Carbon Cycle Graphic Organizer Carbon Footprint Activity Worksheet Colored Pencil (any color) Green Marker Carbon Cycle Storybook Requirements Peer Review Document

QUANTITY

7 7 7 7 1 per student 1 per student

1 per student 1 per student 1 per student 1 per student 1 per student 2 per student (different depending on student groups)

PURPOSE

Carbon Cycle Game (Engage) Carbon Cycle Game (Engage) Carbon Cycle Game (Engage) Carbon Cycle Game (Engage) Carbon Cycle Game (Engage) Engage

Explore/ Explain Elaborate Elaborate Elaborate Evaluate Evaluate

5E Lesson Sequence

5E MODEL STAGE

Engage The Carbon Cycle Game

DURATION

One class period

What Teacher

Does

TOTAL DURATION: 14 CLASS PERIODS TEACHER AND STUDENT ACTIONS 1. Teacher says that today they will play a

game in which they will take on a role of how a carbon atom moves. 2. Teacher facilitates the carbon cycle game using the following resource: The Carbon Cycle Game.1

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NOTES

Supporting Document 1: Background Information. Teacher can reference this document for background information and other source material about the carbon cycle.

Carbon Cycle Game: Students play a game in which they take on the role of a carbon atom moving through the carbon cycle. They will follow their atom randomly through the various levels of the food chain, and through biotic and abiotic processes that make up the carbon cycle. They then answer discussion questions based on their experiences in the game.

The carbon cycle game option 2 is another option for a stationary carbon cycle game that can be played in groups.2 This resource contains the procedure for the carbon cycle game, copies of individual board games, discussion questions, and background knowledge of the carbon cycle. Worksheets and documents may need to be modified for student use.

Teacher should ensure that students are keeping track of: who visited the most organisms, who completed the most cycles, who completed the longest/shortest cycle, who spent the most time in the atmosphere, etc.

5E MODEL STAGE DURATION

TEACHER AND STUDENT ACTIONS

NOTES

Explore Investigating

Carbon Transformations

Five class periods

What Students

Do

What Teacher

Does

What Students

Do

1. Students will participate in carbon cycle game and record their progress through the cycle as a carbon atom.

2. Students will answer discussion questions about the game. This can be done with questions adapted as a worksheet or as a whole class discussion.

Supporting Document 2: Carbon Cycle Game Discussion Questions. This document includes possible discussion questions that can be modified as a reflection via a worksheet or whole class discussion.

1. Teacher asks students to think back to the carbon cycle game and recall as many steps of the cycle that they can. Teacher has students brainstorm examples of carbon transformation in each of those steps.

2. Teacher will pass out the Carbon Cycle Graphic Organizer and explain how it will be used to record notes and information about the investigations, readings, and/ or videos used to explain the carbon transformations.

3. Teacher will facilitate investigations to demonstrate carbon transformations.

Supporting Document 3: Carbon Cycle Investigations. In this explore/ explain collection of investigations, teachers can choose from the following investigations to demonstrate how carbon transforms as it moves throughout the cycle. This can be done as stations, demonstrations, or whole class investigations, videos, informational texts.

Supporting Document 4: Carbon Cycle Graphic Organizer. Teacher can modify carbon cycle graphic organizer for student use.

1. Students will refer back to the carbon cycle game and recall steps.

2. Students will brainstorm examples of carbon transfer in each of the steps.

3. Students will engage in investigations about carbon transfer, record observations, data, and chemical reactions.

Explain What is the carbon cycle?

Five class periods

What Teacher

Does

4. Students will fill in graphic organizer with required information.

1. Teacher will facilitate investigations to demonstrate carbon transformations. Investigations are categorized in Supporting Document 3: Carbon Cycle Investigations.

2. Teacher will direct students to complete the Carbon Cycle Graphic Organizer once applicable investigations have been completed.

3. Teacher will facilitate class discussion of findings for the carbon transformation investigations.

4. Teacher will post chemical formulas of carbon transformations once applicable investigations have been completed.

This portion of the learning cycle alternates with the exploration investigation that the teacher chooses. Once the investigations have been completed, students are to use the Carbon Cycle Graphic Organizer to organize information about each step of the carbon cycle.

Once each transformation has been investigated, teacher can choose to post chemical formula model and keep a running list along with vocabulary posted.

In addition to resources in Supporting Document 1, teacher can reference this resource for background information and chemical formulas for carbon transformations.3

Short videos that can be used to understand the carbon cycle: NASA's Earth Observatory and ClimateBits.4, 5

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