Name: Jiulia Morales

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? CO2

4. The carbon cycle is nature's way of ___________ carbon atoms. Reusing

5. Where is most carbon stored? Rocks and

sediments

6. The ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms are considered what in Sinks
the carbon cycle?

7. Sometimes dead organisms become ___________ that goes through Fossil fuels

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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?
The carbon pool that has the most petagrams of carbon is Earth’s crust.

2. Based on the diagram, which carbon pool has the least petagrams of carbon?
The carbon pool that has the least petagrams is volcanoes.

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 3. How many petagrams of carbon does the intermediate and deep ocean contain?
The intermediate and deep ocean contain 37.275 petagrams of carbon.

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 from the volcanoes to the atmosphere due to the eruption.

b. Carbon is fluxing from the trees to the atmosphere due to deforestation and land use
change.

c. Carbon is fluxing from the soils to the atmosphere due to soil respiration.

5. What do carbon pools and carbon fluxes tell us?

Carbon pools and carbon fluxes tell us where the most carbon is held and where it
goes.

6. Label the parts of the carbon cycle from the diagram below.

A CO2 cycle

B Sunlight

C Photosynthesis

D Organic carbon

E Decay organisms

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 F Animal respiration

G Fossil fuels

H Factory emission

7. Explain the difference between a carbon pool and a carbon sink.

A carbon pool is where carbon is only released into 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?
The effect on earth that can occur when the ice melts is that the older organisms
would start to meet with the current organisms and either adapt or die off.

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 would affect the carbon cycle because forests are carbon pools and flux carbon
from the biosphere to the atmosphere. Also burning trees releases chemicals harmful
to the ozone layer.

10. Describe how a carbon atom in a fox can end up in a tree.

The carbon atom in the fox goes through its cellular respiration system and is
breathed out into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. While in the atmosphere it’s
absorbed by the tree due to photosynthesis. This results in the carbon atom ending up
in the tree.

11. What part of the carbon cycle removes carbon dioxide from the air?
The part of the carbon cycle that removes carbon dioxide from the air is
photosynthesis.

12. What happens to the carbon atoms released during respiration?

The carbon atoms released during respiration go into the atmosphere and aid in
photosynthesis.

13. Explain why decomposers are an important part of the carbon cycle.
Decomposers produce coal, which are fossil fuels, that power things like cars and
factories.

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

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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:

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:

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?

The CO2 in the atmosphere goes through the plants by photosynthesis. The plants then
produce sugars which it uses for energy. Animal eat food to gain energy, the carbon
dioxide goes through their cellular respiration system and is released into the
atmosphere. When the plant or animal dies, it decomposes and the carbon it had turns
into coal. This coal is a fossil fuel which is burned to power things like cars and factories.
When burned, it releases CO2 back into the atmosphere.

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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+)
A score of 2 means 1) Topic and Content
you did everything My argument has a
you were supposed knowledgeable and
to but your answer thoughtful response to
may have used some the learning target(s)
vocabulary and guiding question(s).
incorrectly or your
use of evidence was 2) Use of Evidence and
unclear or missing Analysis
some important My argument is
details. supported by
information from the
provided class resources
and class activities.
(Similar to an A or A+)
❏ Answered the challenge
question?
❏ Real-world examples or
applications used not from the
class activity.
❏ Score 80% or above on the Unit
quiz.
❏ Supported my argument with
information that was not
provided in class and cited
correctly.
❏ Used all score 4 vocabulary.
You need at least 3 boxes
checked from the above
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.

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Score 2 Words Score 3 Words Score 4 Words

● Carbon Cycle ● Carbon Cycle ● Carbon Cycle

● Biosphere ● Biosphere ● Biosphere
● 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