Dissolving gaseous carbon dioxide into where it takes the form of carbonic acid Coming out of solution of carbonic acid to become carbon dioxide in the air (same process that occurs when you open a soda ) Death and Decomposition - breakdown or decay of organic matter The Activity: Tell students that they are going to be carbon atoms moving through the carbon cycle. Categorize the places carbon can be found into these stations: Atmosphere, Plants, Animals, Soil, Ocean, Deep Ocean, and Fossil Fuels. Point out the areas of the room that are labeled with each station and contain the directions for movement from that station. Assign students to each station randomly and evenly. Have students identify the different places carbon go from that given station. Discuss the processes that allow for the transfer of carbon between stations. Students should make a line and roll the die individually to follow the directions for movement from (or retention at) each station. Remind them that they are representing atoms of carbon moving through the carbon cycle and that they should record their movements on the data sheet. Students will realize the routine movements (or non-movements) in the carbon Once the carbon atoms (students) have had a chance to roll the die ten times, have each student create a bar graph using the data they collected. The bar graph should represent the number of times the carbon atom (student) was at each station. Using graph paper, create a large bar graph recording the number of carbon atoms (students) at each station. Wrap-Up and Action Plan: Ask a few students to tell the story of how their carbon atom moved through the cycle. Discuss the results using the bar graph have the students explain where – the most/least amount of carbon was in the cycle? Assessment: Rate students’ understanding on responses from class or group discussions. Assign a follow-up activity: Role-play the motion of carbon throughout the carbon Write a story about your carbon atom as it moved through the carbon cycle. The Carbon Cycle DATA RECORD SHEET
Dissolving gaseous carbon dioxide into where it takes the form of carbonic acid Coming out of solution of carbonic acid to become carbon dioxide in the air (same process that occurs when you open a soda ) Death and Decomposition - breakdown or decay of organic matter The Activity: Tell students that they are going to be carbon atoms moving through the carbon cycle. Categorize the places carbon can be found into these stations: Atmosphere, Plants, Animals, Soil, Ocean, Deep Ocean, and Fossil Fuels. Point out the areas of the room that are labeled with each station and contain the directions for movement from that station. Assign students to each station randomly and evenly. Have students identify the different places carbon go from that given station. Discuss the processes that allow for the transfer of carbon between stations. Students should make a line and roll the die individually to follow the directions for movement from (or retention at) each station. Remind them that they are representing atoms of carbon moving through the carbon cycle and that they should record their movements on the data sheet. Students will realize the routine movements (or non-movements) in the carbon Once the carbon atoms (students) have had a chance to roll the die ten times, have each student create a bar graph using the data they collected. The bar graph should represent the number of times the carbon atom (student) was at each station. Using graph paper, create a large bar graph recording the number of carbon atoms (students) at each station. Wrap-Up and Action Plan: Ask a few students to tell the story of how their carbon atom moved through the cycle. Discuss the results – using the bar graph have the students explain where the most/least amount of carbon was in the cycle? Assessment: Rate students’ understanding on responses from class or group discussions. Assign a follow-up activity: Role-play the motion of carbon throughout the carbon Write a story about your carbon atom as it moved through the carbon cycle. The Carbon Cycle DATA RECORD SHEET
carbon_cycle_game.docx