The Carbon Cycle

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the carbon cycle, including photosynthesis, respiration, feeding,

decomposition, combustion
2. Describe what fossil fuels are
3. Explain the effects that fossil fuels have on the carbon cycle
What is Carbon?
 Carbon is a non-metal element (number 6 on the
periodic table)
 Many substances are made of carbon – from the
graphite in your pencil to diamonds! (we will learn
more about this in chemistry)
 Living organisms require carbon, but cannot use it
in element form, only as a compound
 Compound: chemical substance made of 2 or more
elements
 Carbon can bond to form many different
compounds – like carbon dioxide, and
carbohydrates such as glucose, starch and amino
acids
Learners book page 25

How do we obtain carbon?

 We rely on plants to make important carbohydrates for us.
 REVIEW:
 Plants take in carbon dioxide to make glucose during photosynthesis (BOTH
carbon dioxide and glucose require the presence of carbon atoms)
 So, the carbohydrates in plants contain carbon atoms that were
originally in the air. Plants then use these to make proteins and
fats. All these nutrients contain carbon atoms
 As animals, we get all these carbon-containing nutrients when
eating plants or other animals
 Decomposers get carbon when they break down waste products
from plants and animals
 REVIEW: What is a decomposer?
Learners book page 26

Task 1: Start to build the carbon cycle

From the previous slide we know that CO2 in the air  plants for
photosynthesis  carbohydrates in plants  animals feed on plants 
decomposers feed on both plants and animals

Begin to build a diagram of the carbon cycle by drawing the diagram on

page 26 of the learner's book and answering the questions underneath

Create notes underneath you diagram that explain what is happening, use
the previous slide and leaners book to help you
Learners book page 27

Task 2: Carbon dioxide returning to the air

Review: Respiration equation – glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide +

water + energy
When plants and animals respire, CO2 is a waste product that is released
into the air
Decomposers also respire

Use page 27 to add this information to your diagram

Continue creating notes underneath your diagram with this information

 Learners book page 30-
Fossil fuels and combustion 31

 Fossil fuels are a non-renewable energy source

 Examples of fossil fuels include oil, petroleum, natural gas and
coal

 Fossil fuels are made of decomposing plants and animals found

deep in the earth’s crust – below the level where decomposers
can break them down
 Why do you think decomposers can’t break them down at deep levels of the
crust?

 Instead of decomposers, high pressure and heat change their

remains into fossils fuels like coal and petrol

 We use petroleum and oil for fuels cars, truck and planes, coal is
used for heating and cooking, as well as to generate electricity

 This process takes millions of years, however, there is only a

limited amount of these fuels, which is why renewable energy
sources are becoming more favoured
Learners
book page
30-31

Fossil fuels and combustion

 As fossil fuels contain carbon, they also influence the carbon
cycle
 Combustion occurs when we burn fossil fuels to make power -
the carbon bonds with oxygen to form carbon dioxide
 Therefore, the formation and combustion of fossil fuels can be
added to you diagram
 Use page 31 to help you
 Ensure you include notes underneath you diagram
The completed carbon cycle
 Use this interactive link to click on each step of the carbon cycle to give you
more information, you may want to use some of it to annotate your own
diagram
 https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/image_maps/3-carbon-cycle
 Today and next lesson
1. Create a beautiful carbon cycle diagram! Go to Canvas
and follow the instructions in the “Carbon Cycle
Diagrams” discussion
 You should have a completed draft carbon cycle in your
books, from today!
 Note: it should be the size of 1 page landscape

2. Learner’s Book: Complete questions 3 & 4 on page 33 of

the learner's book, in your science folder/book

3. Workbook: Page 17-19 in the workbook

 Remember: this is 2 lessons worth of work! Take

your time.