5/10/21

The Carbon cycle

Learning Intention
4.10 describe the stages in the carbon cycle, including respiration,
photosynthesis, decomposition and combustion

Starter: How might these things be involved in the

carbon cycle?
Definitions and word equations
Look up the definition and word equations
for the following:

Photosynthesis:
Respiration:
Combustion:

Extra challenge: Add the balanced symbol

equations for photosynthesis and respiration.
 Self assessment

Photosynthesis: is the chemical process which uses light

energy to form glucose, its food sources.
carbon dioxide + water (+ light energy)    →    glucose +
oxygen

Respiration: is a chemical process that release energy

from glucose in muscle cells.
Glucose + oxygen → energy + water + carbon dioxide

Combustion: the process of burning something.

Fuel + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water
 Carbon passport
All of you are going on a journey with your carbon passport, your
carbon passport is going to allow you access to an interesting and
essential cycle that helps to keep life on earth going!

You are split into five groups, you are going to travel to the
rainforest of the Amazon, the animal kingdom, the Atlantic ocean,
the graveyard and the furnace of fossil fuels. You have a table to
complete to record your journey answering the questions along the
way. Your journey will last 15 minutes.

Extra challenge: Explain how increased carbon dioxide in

the atmosphere has contributed to global warming.
 Task
Label your carbon cycle to explain
what each arrow shows.

Support: Text book page ( )

Extra challenge: Pick a task from

the challenge wall
 Task
Match up the labels to the correct
arrows on the carbon cycle.

Support: Text book page ( )

Extra challenge: Pick a task from the

challenge wall
 CO2 in the air & dissolved
in water (oceans)

There is also huge amounts of carbon locked into carbonate rocks, e.g. Limestone.
 You need 5 different coloured highlighters.
7. CO2 is returned
1. Plants absorb CO2 in
to the atmosphere CO2 in the air & dissolved photosynthesis and make
when fossil fuels in water (oceans) new carbon compounds.
are burnt
(combustion).
2. CO2 is returned to
5. Animals & the air when the plant
decomposers also 3. The carbon taken respires.
return CO2 to the in by plants is then
atmosphere by eaten by animals.
respiration.

4. Dead plant &

6. Dead material is animal material is
turned into fossil broken down by
fuels. decomposers.

There is also huge amounts of carbon locked into carbonate rocks, e.g. Limestone.
 Homework

6 mark GCSE question on the carbon

cycle

Due:
 Plenary
Carbon
1 Dioxide

2 4
3

Fossil Fuels

1. Label the arrows with the name of the process each represents.
2. Which two processes require oxygen to release energy?
3. How many of the processes remove carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere?
4. What form does carbon take inside a tree?
5. How does decomposition release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
 The Carbon Cycle

Carbon
1 Dioxide

2 4
3

Fossil Fuels

1. Label the arrows with the name of the process each represents.
2. Which two processes require oxygen to release energy?
3. How many of the processes remove carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere?
4. What form does carbon take inside a tree?
5. How does decomposition release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?