Students explore the great cycles that move carbon, nitrogen, water, and phosphorus through Earth’s systems — continuously recycling the elements of life — and how human activity can disrupt their delicate balance.
Students will be able to…
The carbon atoms in your body were once in the air, a rock, a dinosaur, a tree. How does Earth endlessly recycle the same elements of life — and what happens when we disrupt the flow?
Project this and tap each biogeochemical cycle. Have students trace how each element moves through Earth’s systems.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
The carbon in you was once in a tree, a rock, the air. How?
Students investigate.
Teacher explains.
Apply.
Three quick checks.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (High School Earth & Environmental Science) and Common Core literacy in science.
Develop a model to describe the cycling of carbon among Earth’s systems.
Develop a model illustrating the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans.
Analyze data on the roles of water in Earth’s systems.
Integrate and evaluate information from a diagram and text.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students explain how burning fossil fuels moves carbon that was stored underground for millions of years into the atmosphere, altering the carbon cycle. A printable cycles sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.