THE CARBON CYCLE

Carbon compounds are contained in every

living organism.

We can follow carbon as it moves through

living things, into the Earth’s atmosphere
and back. This is called the Carbon
Cycle.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it
into glucose using photosynthesis

Animals eat the plants for the energy in

glucose and then release carbon
dioxide back into the atmosphere.
 ENERGY
Photosynthesis

Carbon Dioxide + Water  Glucose + Oxygen

Respiration

Oxygen + Glucose  Carbon Dioxide + Water

ENERGY
 PLANTS

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
RESPIRATION

DEATH & DECAY

ANIMALS

RESPIRATION

FEEDING

DEATH & DECAY EXCRETION

DECOMPOSERS

RESPIRATION

DEATH & DECAY

FUNGI AND BACTERIA

FOSSIL
FUELS
COMBUSTION

DEATH AND
FOSSILISATION
Create a key
to label this
diagram
G.
A. B.
B.
B.

C.
F.
D.
D.

E.
A

G
A PHOTOSYNTHESIS

B RESPIRATION

C FEEDING

D DEATH AND DECAY

E DEATH AND FOSSILISATION

F EXCRETION

G COMBUSTION
Ocean carbon
cycle

G.
A. B.
B.
B.

C.
F.
D.
D.

E.
HOW HAS HUMANITY EFFECTED THE
AMOUNT OF ATMOSPHERIC CARBON