Student‌‌Exploration:‌‌Carbon‌‌Cycle‌ 

 
CLO:‌‌I‌‌w ill‌‌explain‌‌the‌‌steps‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Carbon‌‌Cycle‌‌by‌‌completing‌‌a‌‌gizmo.‌ 
 
Vocabulary‌:‌‌atmosphere,‌‌biomass,‌‌biosphere,‌‌c arbon‌‌reservoir,‌‌c arbon‌‌s ink,‌‌fossil‌‌fuel,‌ 
geosphere,‌‌greenhouse‌‌gas,‌‌hydrosphere,‌‌lithosphere,‌‌photosynthesis‌ 
 
Prior‌‌Knowledge‌‌Q uestions‌‌(Do‌‌these‌‌BEFORE‌‌using‌‌the‌‌G izmo.)‌ 
In‌‌the‌‌process‌‌of‌‌photosynthesis‌,‌‌plants‌‌take‌‌in‌‌c arbon‌‌dioxide‌‌(CO‌2‌)‌‌from‌‌the‌‌atmosphere‌‌and‌ 
water‌‌(H‌2‌O)‌‌from‌‌the‌‌s oil.‌‌Using‌‌the‌‌energy‌‌of‌‌s unlight,‌‌plants‌‌build‌‌m olecules‌‌of‌‌glucose‌ 
(C‌6‌H‌12‌O‌6‌)‌‌and‌‌oxygen‌‌(O‌2‌).‌  
 
1. How‌‌do‌‌plants‌‌on‌‌Earth‌‌affect‌‌the‌‌amount‌‌of‌‌c arbon‌‌in‌‌Earth’s‌‌atmosphere?‌ 
 

Plants‌‌take‌‌c arbon‌‌from‌‌the‌‌atmosphere‌‌to‌‌photosynthesize.‌‌O ccurs‌‌when‌‌Earth's‌ 

atmosphere‌‌is‌‌trapped‌‌in‌‌s olar‌‌radiation.‌ 
 
 
2. Animals‌‌eat‌‌plants‌‌and‌‌produce‌‌c arbon‌‌dioxide‌‌and‌‌water.‌‌How‌‌do‌‌animals‌‌affect‌‌the‌ 
amount‌‌of‌‌c arbon‌‌in‌‌Earth’s‌‌atmosphere?‌ 
 

When‌‌animals‌‌eat‌‌food,‌‌they‌‌get‌‌c arbon‌‌in‌‌the‌‌form‌‌of‌‌c arbohydrates‌‌and‌‌proteins.‌‌The‌ 

carbon‌‌c ombines‌‌with‌‌oxygen‌‌to‌‌form‌‌c arbon‌‌dioxide‌‌and‌‌is‌‌released‌‌back‌‌into‌‌the‌ 
atmosphere‌‌as‌‌a‌‌waste‌‌product‌‌when‌‌animals‌‌breathe‌‌and‌‌exhale.‌ 
 
Gizmo‌‌Warm-up‌ 
The‌‌Carbon‌‌Cycle‌‌G izmo‌‌allows‌‌y ou‌‌to‌‌follow‌‌the‌‌m any‌ 
paths‌‌an‌‌atom‌‌of‌‌c arbon‌‌c an‌‌take‌‌through‌‌Earth’s‌‌s ystems.‌ 
To‌‌begin,‌‌notice‌‌the‌‌black‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Atmospheric‌ 
CO‌2‌‌ ‌area,‌‌highlighted‌‌in‌‌y ellow.‌‌The‌‌glowing‌‌blue‌‌areas‌ 
represent‌‌possible‌‌locations‌‌the‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌c ould‌‌go‌‌next.‌ 
 
1. From‌‌Earth’s‌‌atmosphere,‌‌where‌‌c an‌‌the‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌ 
go‌‌next?‌ 
 

The‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌c an‌‌go‌‌to‌‌the‌‌oceanic‌‌c o2,‌‌land‌‌plants,‌ 

and‌‌exposed‌‌rock.‌  
 
2. Click‌‌on‌‌Land‌‌plants‌‌and‌‌read‌‌the‌‌description.‌‌How‌‌did‌‌the‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌get‌‌from‌‌the‌ 
atmosphere‌‌to‌‌a‌‌plant?‌ 
 

The‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌gets‌‌to‌‌the‌‌atmosphere‌‌of‌‌a‌‌plant‌‌it‌‌gets‌ 
there‌‌through‌‌photosynthesis.‌ 

 
 
 3. Select‌‌Land‌‌animals‌.‌‌How‌‌did‌‌the‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌get‌‌from‌‌land‌‌plants‌‌into‌‌the‌‌animal?‌ 
 

The‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌gets‌‌from‌‌land‌‌plants‌‌into‌‌the‌‌animal‌‌by‌ 
being‌‌c onsumed.‌ 

 
 
4. Select‌‌Atmospheric‌‌CO‌2‌.‌‌How‌‌did‌‌the‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌get‌‌from‌‌land‌‌animals‌‌back‌‌to‌‌the‌ 
atmosphere?‌ 
 

The‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌gets‌‌back‌‌from‌‌the‌‌land‌‌to‌‌the‌ 
atmosphere‌‌by‌‌c ellular‌‌respiration.‌  
 

 
 
 
Activity‌‌A:‌   Get‌‌the‌‌G izmo‌‌ready‌:‌  
 
Carbon‌‌pathways‌  ● Click‌‌Reset‌.‌ 

Introduction:‌‌‌Earth‌‌c an‌‌be‌‌divided‌‌into‌‌four‌‌s ystems.‌ ‌The‌‌atmosphere‌‌‌is‌‌the‌‌air‌‌above‌‌Earth’s‌ 

surface.‌‌The‌‌hydrosphere‌‌‌is‌‌c omposed‌‌of‌‌all‌‌of‌‌Earth’s‌‌water.‌‌The‌‌geosphere‌‌‌is‌‌the‌‌rocky,‌ 
non-living‌‌part‌‌of‌‌Earth.‌‌The‌‌biosphere‌‌‌c onsists‌‌of‌‌all‌‌living‌‌things,‌‌including‌‌people.‌‌Some‌ 
scientists‌‌use‌‌the‌‌term‌‌“anthroposphere”‌‌to‌‌describe‌‌everything‌‌m ade‌‌or‌‌m odified‌‌by‌‌humans.‌  
 
Question:‌‌How‌‌does‌‌carbon‌‌move‌‌between‌‌the‌‌atmosphere,‌‌hydrosphere,‌‌biosphere,‌‌and‌ 
geosphere?‌ 
1. Explore‌:‌‌Use‌‌the‌‌G izmo‌‌to‌‌c reate‌‌a‌‌path‌‌for‌‌c arbon‌‌that‌‌begins‌‌and‌‌ends‌‌in‌‌the‌‌atmosphere.‌ 
Fill‌‌in‌‌the‌‌s teps‌‌in‌‌the‌‌path‌‌below.‌‌Then,‌‌label‌‌each‌‌location‌‌with‌‌the‌‌s ystem‌‌it‌‌represents.‌ 
Finally,‌‌s ummarize‌‌v ery‌‌briefly‌‌how‌‌the‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌got‌‌to‌‌that‌‌location.‌  
 

Carbon‌‌path‌  System‌  How‌‌it‌‌got‌‌there‌ 

Atmospheric‌‌CO‌2‌  Atmosphere‌  Atmospheric‌‌CO‌2‌‌ ‌c omes‌‌from‌‌v olcanoes,‌‌burning‌‌fossil‌ 

fuels,‌‌and‌‌other‌‌s ources.‌ 
 

  
Hydrosphere‌  

Oceanic‌‌CO2‌  ‌  
  
Hydrosphere‌ 
‌Shells/Coral‌   and‌‌Biosphere‌  
‌  

 
Hydrosphere‌  
‌O ceanic‌‌CO2‌ 
‌  

  
Biosphere/Hydro‌
Marine‌‌Plants‌‌and‌  sphere‌  
algae‌   ‌  

  
Biosphere‌  
Marine‌‌Animals‌ 
‌  

  
‌Hydrosphere‌   
Oceanic‌‌CO2‌ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Create‌:‌‌Click‌‌Reset‌.‌‌Use‌‌the‌‌G izmo‌‌to‌‌c reate‌‌a‌‌path‌‌in‌‌which‌‌the‌‌c arbon‌‌atom‌‌goes‌‌from‌ 
the‌‌atmosphere‌‌to‌‌the‌‌hydrosphere,‌‌biosphere‌‌and‌‌geosphere.‌‌Describe‌‌each‌‌transition‌ 
briefly.‌ 
 
 
 

Atmosphere‌  Hydrosphere‌  Biosphere‌  Geosphere‌ 

Atmospheric‌‌CO‌2‌    ‌O ceanic‌‌CO2‌  Marine‌  ‌Sediments‌ 

Plants/Algae‌ 
>Marine‌‌Animals‌  
 Volcanoes,‌‌burning‌‌fossil‌ 
‌Rainwater‌  ‌During‌  ‌Uneaten‌‌plants‌‌and‌ 
fuels,‌‌and‌‌other‌‌s ources.‌ 
breaks‌‌down‌  photosynthesis‌ algae‌‌drift‌‌down‌‌to‌ 
exposed‌‌rocks.‌  ,‌‌m arine‌‌algae‌  the‌‌ocean‌‌floor‌‌and‌ 
and‌‌plants‌  become‌‌a‌‌part‌‌of‌ 
remove‌‌c arbon‌  marine‌‌s ediments‌ 
dioxide‌ 
 
 
3. Explore‌:‌‌Use‌‌the‌‌G izmo‌‌to‌‌c reate‌‌three‌‌m ore‌‌c arbon‌‌paths,‌‌each‌‌s tarting‌‌and‌‌ending‌‌in‌‌the‌ 
atmosphere.‌‌Label‌‌each‌‌location‌‌with‌‌A‌‌for‌‌atmosphere,‌‌B‌‌for‌‌biosphere,‌‌G ‌‌for‌‌geosphere,‌‌or‌ 
H‌‌for‌‌hydrosphere.‌‌(You‌‌c an‌‌also‌‌use‌‌P‌‌for‌‌the‌‌anthroposphere‌‌if‌‌y ou‌‌like,‌‌or‌‌just‌‌include‌‌it‌‌in‌ 
the‌‌biosphere.)‌ 
1.‌‌Path‌‌A‌‌( Atmosphere)‌‌: ‌ 
Carbon‌‌Path:‌‌Atmospheric‌‌CO2:‌‌t his‌‌arises‌‌f rom‌‌g eological‌‌sources‌‌such‌‌as‌‌volcanoes,‌‌b urning‌‌f ossil‌‌f uels,‌ 
etc.‌‌T his‌‌g ets‌‌carbon‌‌d ioxide‌‌b ack‌‌into‌‌t he‌‌atmosphere‌‌d uring‌‌t hese‌‌p rocesses.‌ 
2.‌‌Path‌‌G ‌‌( Geosphere)‌ 
Carbon‌‌Path:‌‌L ithosphere:‌‌Earth’s‌‌carbon‌‌h as‌‌b een‌‌researched‌‌t o‌‌h ave‌‌large‌‌limestone‌‌d eposits.‌‌T his‌ 
limestone‌‌can‌‌b e‌‌f ound‌‌in‌‌t he‌‌Earth's‌‌lithosphere.‌‌T hrough‌‌t he‌‌h eating‌‌o f‌‌limestone,‌‌carbon‌‌d ioxide‌‌g ets‌ 
back‌‌t o‌‌t he‌‌atmosphere.‌ 
3.‌‌Path‌‌H‌‌( Hydrosphere)‌ 
Carbon‌‌Path:‌‌O ceania‌‌CO2:‌‌t here‌‌is‌‌a‌‌large‌‌d eposit‌‌o f‌‌d issolved‌‌CO2‌‌u nderneath‌‌t he‌‌o cean.‌‌As‌‌t he‌‌o cean‌ 
gets‌‌colder,‌‌it‌‌d issolves‌‌m ore.‌‌T he‌‌p lants‌‌absorbed‌‌carbon‌‌d ioxide‌‌t hrough‌‌p hotosynthesis‌‌and‌‌g et‌‌b ack‌‌t o‌ 
the‌‌atmosphere‌ 
 
4. Explain‌:‌‌Based‌‌on‌‌the‌‌G izmo,‌‌explain‌‌how‌‌the‌‌following‌‌transitions‌‌m ight‌‌take‌‌place:‌ 
 
A. Describe‌‌at‌‌least‌‌two‌‌ways‌‌that‌‌c arbon‌‌c an‌‌get‌‌from‌‌a‌‌land‌‌plant‌‌to‌‌the‌‌atmosphere.‌ 
 

1. Carbon‌‌is‌‌released‌‌from‌‌the‌‌plant‌‌into‌‌the‌‌atmosphere‌‌through‌‌the‌‌process‌‌of‌ 
respiration‌‌in‌‌the‌‌form‌‌of‌‌c arbon‌‌dioxide.‌ 
 

2. The‌‌other‌‌way‌‌of‌‌releasing‌‌c arbon‌‌from‌‌the‌‌plant‌‌into‌‌the‌‌atmosphere‌‌is‌‌by‌ 
decomposition.‌ 
 
B. Describe‌‌at‌‌least‌‌two‌‌ways‌‌that‌‌c arbon‌‌c an‌‌get‌‌from‌‌the‌‌atmosphere‌‌to‌‌the‌ 
hydrosphere.‌ 
 

1. One‌‌way‌‌is‌‌that‌‌c arbon‌‌dioxide‌‌automatically‌‌dissolves‌‌in‌‌c old‌‌ocean‌‌s urface‌ 

waters‌‌anyway‌‌s o‌‌large‌‌bodies‌‌of‌‌water‌‌already‌‌have‌‌a‌‌c oncentration‌‌of‌ 
carbon‌‌dioxide.‌ 
 

2. Another‌‌way‌‌is‌‌when‌‌c arbon‌‌dioxide‌‌dissolves‌‌in‌‌rainwater‌‌which‌‌later‌‌reacts‌ 
with‌‌m inerals‌‌in‌‌rocks.‌ 
 
C. Can‌‌y ou‌‌find‌‌two‌‌ways‌‌that‌‌c arbon‌‌c an‌‌get‌‌from‌‌the‌‌ocean‌‌to‌‌the‌‌lithosphere‌?‌‌(The‌ 
lithosphere‌‌is‌‌the‌‌rigid‌‌layer‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Earth,‌‌including‌‌the‌‌c rust‌‌and‌‌part‌‌of‌‌the‌‌m antle.)‌ 
 

1. ocean‌‌to‌‌the‌‌lithosphere‌‌is‌‌through‌‌the‌‌m arine‌‌plants‌‌+‌‌animals‌‌(in‌‌the‌ 
ocean),‌‌s ediments,‌‌petroleum‌‌than‌‌to‌‌the‌‌lithosphere.‌ 
 
 2. The‌‌s econd‌‌way‌‌is‌‌through‌‌the‌‌s hells‌‌+‌‌c oral‌‌(in‌‌the‌‌ocean),‌‌limestone,‌‌then‌ 
to‌‌the‌‌lithosphere.‌ 
 
D. Describe‌‌at‌‌least‌‌two‌‌ways‌‌that‌‌c arbon‌‌c an‌‌get‌‌from‌‌s eashells‌‌to‌‌the‌‌atmosphere.‌ 
 

1. Crashing‌‌of‌‌tectonic‌‌plates.‌ 
 

2. Odd‌‌bleaching‌‌of‌‌v olcanoes.‌