The Carbon Cycle Game - ClimateChangeLIVE

The Carbon Cycle Game(Adapted by Jennifer Ceven from “The Incredible Journey,” Project Wet)Please credit the author, Jennifer Ceven, Grade 6 Science Teacher, when using this lessonSummary:By rolling a die, students will simulate a molecule of carbon’s movementthroughout various locations within the carbon cycle.Objective:o Students will describe the movement of carbon within the carbon cycle.o Students will evaluate the relative timing of movement through various locationsin the carbon cycle.Materials:o 7 Diceo 7 Station Signso 7 Station Movement Directionso Data record sheets for each studentBackground:The movement of carbon through various aspects of the natural environment isthe focus of much scientific research. Global warming and climate change can beattributed to the increased amount of heat-trapping gases, such as carbon dioxide.Students must develop an understanding of how carbon moves through theenvironment in order to appreciate the complexity of developing solutions to addressproblems associated with climate change. In addition, since anthropogenic influencesimpact how much carbon is reintroduced to the active carbon cycle, students shouldrecognize that human actions negatively affect the environment.Warm-Up:o Review what carbon is (an element, the stuff of life)o Discuss where carbon can be found on Earth.o Discuss the role of carbon in each of the places identified.o Review the processes that move carbon around in the carbon cycle1. Physical processes Water currents Settling to the ocean floor or to the ground2. Chemical and Biological processes Respiration – Exchange of gases through breathing Photosynthesis - The synthesis of complex organic materials, esp.carbohydrates, from carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic salts,using sunlight as the source of energy and with the aid ofchlorophyll and associated pigments. Combustion – The act or process of burning

Dissolving gaseous carbon dioxide into water, where it takes theform of carbonic acidComing out of solution of carbonic acid to become carbon dioxidein the air (same process that occurs when you open a soda )Death and Decomposition - breakdown or decay of organic matterThe Activity:1. Tell students that they are going to be carbon atoms moving through the carboncycle.2. Categorize the places carbon can be found into these stations: Atmosphere,Plants, Animals, Soil, Ocean, Deep Ocean, and Fossil Fuels. Point out the areasof the room that are labeled with each station and contain the directions formovement from that station.3. Assign students to each station randomly and evenly. Have students identify thedifferent places carbon could go from that given station. Discuss the processesthat allow for the transfer of carbon between stations. Students should make aline and roll the die individually to follow the directions for movement from (orretention at) each station. Remind them that they are representing atoms ofcarbon moving through the carbon cycle and that they should record theirmovements on the data sheet.4. Students will realize the routine movements (or non-movements) in the carboncycle.5. Once the carbon atoms (students) have had a chance to roll the die ten times,have each student create a bar graph using the data they collected. The bargraph should represent the number of times the carbon atom (student) was ateach station.6. Using graph paper, create a large bar graph recording the number of carbonatoms (students) at each station.Wrap-Up and Action Plan:o Ask a few students to tell the story of how their carbon atom moved through thecycle.o Discuss the results – using the bar graph have the students explain where themost/least amount of carbon was in the cycle?Assessment:o Rate students’ understanding on their responses from class or groupdiscussions.o Assign a follow-up activity:o Role-play the motion of carbon throughout the carbon cycle.o Write a story about your carbon atom as it moved through the carboncycle.

The Carbon CycleREFERENCE PAGEImage Source: http://www.bigelow.org/foodweb/carbon cycle.jpg

The Carbon CycleDATA RECORD SHEETRecord the places you have traveled as a carbon molecule.Student’s Name:Station Stop1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.What HappensDestination

The Carbon CycleTHE ATMOSPHEREYou are currently a molecule of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.If you roll Then you 1Stay in the atmosphere. Much of the carbon dioxide in theatmosphere moves through the atmosphere.2Go to plant. You are used by a plant in photosynthesis.3Stay in the atmosphere. Much of the carbon dioxide in theatmosphere moves through the atmosphere.4Stay in the atmosphere. Much of the carbon dioxide in theatmosphere circulates through the atmosphere.5Go to surface ocean.6Go to plant. You are used by a plant in photosynthesis.

The Carbon CyclePLANTSYou are currently a carbon molecule in the structure of the plant.If you roll Then you 1Go to soil. The tree shed its leaves.2Stay in plant. You are a carbon molecule in the tree’s trunk.3Go to animal. The leaves and berries that the plant producedcontain your carbon molecule and were eaten.4Stay in plant. You are a carbon molecule in the tree’s roots.5Stay in plant. You are a carbon molecule in the tree’sbranches.6Stay in plant. You are a carbon molecule in the tree’s trunk.

The Carbon CycleANIMALSYou are currently a molecule of carbon in an animal.If you roll Then you 1Stay in animal. The carbon molecule is stored as fat in theanimal.2Go to soil. The animal that consumed you died and yourcarbon molecule is returned to the soil.3Go to atmosphere. The animal that consumed you respired(breathed) you out as carbon dioxide.4Stay in animal. You are eaten by a predator.5Go to atmosphere. The animal that consumed you respired(breathed) you out as carbon dioxide.6Go to atmosphere. The animal that consumed you respired(breathed) you out as carbon dioxide.

The Carbon CycleSOILYou are currently a molecule of carbon dioxide in the soil.If you roll Then you 1Stay in the soil. Much of the carbon in the soil is stored there.2Go to plant. You are used by a plant in photosynthesis.3Go to fossil fuels. Your carbon molecule has been in the soilso long it turns into fossil fuels.4Go to the atmosphere.5Stay in the soil.6Go to fossil fuels. Your carbon molecule has been in the soilso long that it turns into fossil fuels.

The Carbon CycleSURFACE OCEANYou are currently a molecule of carbon dioxide in the surface ocean.If you roll Then you 1Go to deep ocean.2Stay in the surface ocean.3Go to deep ocean. Your carbon atom was part of an oceanorganism that has died and has sunk to the bottom of theocean.4Stay in the surface ocean.5Go to the atmosphere.6Go to the atmosphere.

The Carbon CycleDEEP OCEANYou are currently a molecule of carbon in the deep ocean.If you roll Then you 1Stay in the deep ocean.2Stay in the deep ocean.3Go to surface ocean.4Go to surface ocean.5Go to surface ocean.6Go to animal. An organism in the water has taken you up asfood in the deep ocean.

The Carbon CycleFOSSIL FUELSFossil fuels are a rich source of energy that has been created from carbon that hasbeen stored for many millions of years.If you roll Then you 1Stay in the fossil fuels.2Stay in the fossil fuels.3Stay in the fossil fuels.4Stay in the fossil fuels.5Go to the atmosphere. Humans have pumped the fuel thatyou are part of out of the ground and have used it to powertheir cars.6Go to the atmosphere.

.Groupsshouldhave 3 students.Each studentchoosesa playingpiece.Thisplayingpiecerepresentsa carbonatom.Each groupneeds2 coinsand a playingboard.Each personrequiresa questionsheetand a copy ofthe playingboard.The groupneedssome coloredpencils.2.Place your playingpieceson space #1.Flipthe coinsas instructedon the followingpages.Flipyour coinsat the startof the turnfollowinginstructionsas you go.Do not followthe sequence of thenumbers,followthe chance moves thatthe coinspresent.Two or moreplayerscan occupy the same place.When your carbon atom is returnedtothe atmosphere,you have completedone cycle.Continueplayinguntiltoldto stop.3.On your individualgame board,use the coloredpencilsto keep trackof your cycleswitheach colorrepresentinga singlecycle.Label thecyclesIst,2nd, etc.Everyonewho travelsthroughthe cycleandunderstandsthe processis a winner.BUT,for"fun"1)Who visitedthe most organisms2)Who completedthe most cycles3)who completedthe longestcycle?the shortest?4)Who spends the most time in the atmosphere?4.toHave funtape thissheetthen answerin as well.thequestionsDISCUSSIONinyourlabbook.Be sureQUESTIONS1.For the sake of time and space,some importantpathwayshave beenleftout of the game.Note these pathwaysand describehow carbon atomsmightenterintoand cyclethroughthese pathways.In particular,notethe aquaticand fossilfuelpathways.2.Increated?changedthe courseof the carbon cycle,Ever destroyed?Ever changedintoothercompounds? Explain.are carbonintootheratomskindsthemselvesof atoms?everEver3.What changes do occurin the stateof carbonatoms in the courseofthe cycle?Describethe organicand inorganicstatesof carbon and thechanges thatoccur between these states.4.Why are some carbonatoms from Carbon Dioxidenotsugar moleculesin darkness?Startby answering:Whatenergyof carbon dioxide?Of sugar?What is necessarya higherphase?5.Much ofrespiration.thisprocess6.Whatthe food ingestedintoeachWhy is thisso?What doesand how does it get it?happenstocarbon7.(SUMMARY) Why isthe variousorganisms?and used by.atomsa naturalIn chartasorganismisthe organisma resultecosystemnotform,discussofincorporatedintois the potentialfor them to 90 tometabolizedin cellneed and get out ofrespiration?pollutedwaste,by wastesfromfrom what organism

f/.CO2 In the.: .atmosphere'-.- -.""""'-.:0-----. -6."'7.DETRITUS deadorganicmatterFIRE-- - :(10.'0--; detr1tus - -- --feedersanddecomposers1,,: 1.- )

NOTE:H headsT TailsCARBONFlipSTART1.2.CYCLE2 coinsATNUMBER unlessyouaretoldotherwise1YOUR CARBON ATOM IS NOW A MOLECULE OF CO2 IN THE ATMOSPHERE.f1!.Q coinsTTNot absorbed;yourcarbonatom remainsin the atmosphereanotherturn.TH or HH yourcarbonatom is absorbedintoa leafof a plant.to number2THE MOLECULE OF CO2 WITH YOUR CARBON ATOMPLANT.ili:p. coinsTTNO SUNLIGHT!NO photosynthesis.thecarbon atom returnsto the atmosphere.TH or OH SUNLIGHT!Photosynthesis.Tourincorporatedintoa sugar moleculebynumber 3.forGoIS NOW IN A LEAF OF ACO2 moleculewithyourGo back to #1.carbon atom isphotosynthesis.Go to3.YOUR CARBON ATOM IS NOW IN A MOLECULE OF SUGAR IN A PLANTil.!.Q .t.wQ CO! n STTthe sugar moleculewith your carbon atom is oxidizedin cellrespirationto provideenergyfor plantgrowth.your carbonatom is releasedin a moleculeof CO2.Go back to number 1.TH or HH the sugar moleculewith your carbonatom is incorporatedintoa moleculemaking up the tissueof a plant.Go to spaceNumber 4.4.YOUR CARBON ATOM IS NOW IN A MOLECULE OF SUGAR IN A PLANT. coinsTTThe plantis eatenby an animal.go to Number5 and takeanotherturnto determinewhatkindof animal.TU or HH plantpartdies.itsorganicmatteris detritus.Go toNumber6.5.THE PLANT TISSUE WITH YOUR CARBON ATOM IS EATEN BY A PRIMARYCONSUMER .EliP. Q!1§ Q!!! t w i c e .T & Tmammal herbivore--goto SAT & Hbird--goto SBH & Tinsect--goto SCH & Hhuman,perhapsyourself--goto 96.YOUR CARBON ATOM IS NOW IN A MOLECULE OF DEAD ORGANICDETRITUS.fJJ:,Q coinsTT or THconsumedby a detritusfeederor decomposer.takeanotherturnto determinewhichone.HHFIRE!go to 7.7.MATTER ORTHE MOLECULEWITH YOUR CARBON ATOM IS NOW BEINGOXIDIZEDA FIRE.OXYGEN IS COMBINGWITH YOUR CARBON ATOM AND ITRELEASEDIN A MOLECULEOF CARBON DIOXIDE.GO IMMEDIATELYNUMBER 1 WITHOUTTAKINGA TURN .Go to10 and(BURNED)IS BEINGBACK TOIN