Format responses in blue bold font.
Student Exploration: Carbon Cycle
Vocabulary (refer to vocab file located on the Gizmo site for definitions): atmosphere,
biomass, biosphere, carbon reservoir, carbon sink, fossil fuel, geosphere, greenhouse
gas, hydrosphere, lithosphere, photosynthesis
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
In the process of photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
atmosphere and water (H2O) from the soil. Using the energy of sunlight, plants build
molecules of glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2).
1. How do plants on Earth affect the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere? They
absorb it
2. Animals eat plants and produce carbon dioxide and water. How do animals affect
the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere? They produce it
Gizmo Warm-up
The Carbon Cycle Gizmo™ allows you to follow the
many paths an atom of carbon can take through Earth’s
systems. To begin, notice the black carbon atom in the
Atmospheric CO2 area, highlighted in yellow. The
glowing blue areas represent possible locations the
carbon atom could go next.
1. From Earth’s atmosphere, where can the carbon
atom go next? Ocean, land plants, and exposed
rocks.
2. Click on Land plants and read the description. How did the carbon atom get from
the atmosphere to a plant? Through photosynthesis
3. Select Land animals. How did the carbon atom get from land plants into the
animal? Land animals eat plants since most carbon is stored in wood a small
amount is eaten.
4. Select Atmospheric CO2. How did the carbon atom get from land animals back to
the atmosphere? Through cellular respiration they produce energy and carbon
dioxide and water is released.
, Activity A:
Get the Gizmo ready:
Carbon Click Reset.
pathways
Introduction: Earth can be divided into four systems. The atmosphere is the air above
Earth’s surface. The hydrosphere is composed of all of Earth’s water. The geosphere
is the rocky, non-living part of Earth. The biosphere consists of all living things,
including people. Some scientists use the term “anthroposphere” to describe everything
made or modified by humans.
Question: How does carbon move between the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
biosphere, and geosphere?
1. Explore: Use the Gizmo to create a path for carbon that begins and ends in the
atmosphere. Fill in the steps in the path below. Then, label each location with the
system it represents. Finally, summarize very briefly how the carbon atom got to that
location.
Carbon path System How it got there
Atmospheric CO2 Atmosphere Atmospheric CO2 comes from
volcanoes, burning fossil fuels, and
other sources.
Land Plants go through photosynthesis.
Biosphere
Plants/Animals Animals eat plants to gain energy.
There needs to be a good balance of
dissolved CO2levels because if there
is too much in the ocean then it can
Shells/Coral Biosphere cause the ocean to be too acidic. The
shells/coral/marine animals get this
dissolved oxygen for forming and
strengthening their shells/bones
Soil washed into streams and build up
Sediments Geosphere
under water masses.
Sediments get compressed into
Lithosphere Geosphere sedimentary rocks that are rich in
carbon.
Student Exploration: Carbon Cycle
Vocabulary (refer to vocab file located on the Gizmo site for definitions): atmosphere,
biomass, biosphere, carbon reservoir, carbon sink, fossil fuel, geosphere, greenhouse
gas, hydrosphere, lithosphere, photosynthesis
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
In the process of photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
atmosphere and water (H2O) from the soil. Using the energy of sunlight, plants build
molecules of glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2).
1. How do plants on Earth affect the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere? They
absorb it
2. Animals eat plants and produce carbon dioxide and water. How do animals affect
the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere? They produce it
Gizmo Warm-up
The Carbon Cycle Gizmo™ allows you to follow the
many paths an atom of carbon can take through Earth’s
systems. To begin, notice the black carbon atom in the
Atmospheric CO2 area, highlighted in yellow. The
glowing blue areas represent possible locations the
carbon atom could go next.
1. From Earth’s atmosphere, where can the carbon
atom go next? Ocean, land plants, and exposed
rocks.
2. Click on Land plants and read the description. How did the carbon atom get from
the atmosphere to a plant? Through photosynthesis
3. Select Land animals. How did the carbon atom get from land plants into the
animal? Land animals eat plants since most carbon is stored in wood a small
amount is eaten.
4. Select Atmospheric CO2. How did the carbon atom get from land animals back to
the atmosphere? Through cellular respiration they produce energy and carbon
dioxide and water is released.
, Activity A:
Get the Gizmo ready:
Carbon Click Reset.
pathways
Introduction: Earth can be divided into four systems. The atmosphere is the air above
Earth’s surface. The hydrosphere is composed of all of Earth’s water. The geosphere
is the rocky, non-living part of Earth. The biosphere consists of all living things,
including people. Some scientists use the term “anthroposphere” to describe everything
made or modified by humans.
Question: How does carbon move between the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
biosphere, and geosphere?
1. Explore: Use the Gizmo to create a path for carbon that begins and ends in the
atmosphere. Fill in the steps in the path below. Then, label each location with the
system it represents. Finally, summarize very briefly how the carbon atom got to that
location.
Carbon path System How it got there
Atmospheric CO2 Atmosphere Atmospheric CO2 comes from
volcanoes, burning fossil fuels, and
other sources.
Land Plants go through photosynthesis.
Biosphere
Plants/Animals Animals eat plants to gain energy.
There needs to be a good balance of
dissolved CO2levels because if there
is too much in the ocean then it can
Shells/Coral Biosphere cause the ocean to be too acidic. The
shells/coral/marine animals get this
dissolved oxygen for forming and
strengthening their shells/bones
Soil washed into streams and build up
Sediments Geosphere
under water masses.
Sediments get compressed into
Lithosphere Geosphere sedimentary rocks that are rich in
carbon.
