Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Carbon Cycles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introduced to the concept of energy cycles by learning about the carbon cycle. They will learn how carbon atoms travel through the geological (ancient) carbon cycle and the biological/physical carbon cycle. Students will...
eBook
Other

Elmhurst College: Virtual Chembook: Carbon Cycle

For Students 9th - 10th
A step-by-step discussion of the stages in the carbon cycle. Each step includes a diagram further explaining the processes involved, as well as pictures depicting combustion, respiration, photosynthesis, and decomposition.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity from NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory introduces students to the current scientific understanding of the greenhouse effect and the carbon cycle. The activity leads them through several interactive tasks investigating...
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Physics & Chemistry: Carbon Dioxide

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what carbon dioxide is, where it is found, sources of it, and describes human activities that contribute to carbon depletion and increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (Updated: February 22, 2013)
Unit Plan
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Ciese: Carbon Imbalance: Algae to the Rescue? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A 95-page learning module that integrates biology, chemistry, and engineering. It includes in-class labs, virtual labs, and engineering design activities. Working with algae, students learn about and investigate how photosynthesis,...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Dinosaur Breath

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Through discussion and hands-on experimentation, students learn about the geological (ancient) carbon cycle. They investigate the role of dinosaurs in the carbon cycle and the eventual storage of carbon in the form of chalk. Students...
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Sources, Sinks, and Feedbacks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will learn about how the Earth's carbon cycle works, as they examine the relationship between levels of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere and the temperature of the ocean's surface. Includes online student...
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Cave Formation: Biogeochemical Cycles

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment adapted from NOVA chronicles the discoveries that led to a radical new theory in which living organisms, not just geological processes, play an active role in cave formation. [5:42]
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Biorecycling: Using Nature to Make Resources From Waste

For Teachers 5th - 8th
By studying key processes in the carbon cycle, such as photosynthesis, composting, and anaerobic digestion, students learn how nature and engineers biorecycle carbon.
Unit Plan
Other

The Learning Partnership: Journey to El Yunque

For Students 6th - 8th
In this set of learning modules, students examine the impact of hurricane weather on the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico. They learn about hurricanes, producers, consumers, and the food chain, and how disruptions in organisms'...
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Carbon Dioxide Sources and Sinks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lab activity, young scholars use a chemical indicator (bromothymol blue) to detect the presence of carbon dioxide in animal and plant respiration and in the burning of fossil fuels and its absence in the products of plant...
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels 101

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Multi-lesson activity in which students conduct a life cycle assessment of energy and carbon dioxide used and produced in ethanol production.
Website
Other

Water on the Web

For Students 9th - 10th
Water on the Web (WOW) is an advanced site allowing students to actively participate in data analysis from real research sites. Lesson plans on a range of topics are provided. There is also a tutorial for using Excel to graph WOW data.
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Soil, Plants, and the Energy Cycle

For Students 9th - 10th
Students explore what kind and how much bio-mass can be produced in an area around your city or town. They figure how many gallons of fuel can be expected from one acre of crop land, and how much carbon can be sequestered in the local area.
Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Atmospheric Science Explorers: Global Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed overview of global climate change, with explanations of Earth's climate change, the carbon cycle, ecosystems, and greenhouse gases, and how the movements of matter and energy impact on climate. All information is reinforced...
Website
US Geological Survey

Usgs: Earth Surface Dynamics (Research Activities)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from USGS provides several activities to help understand the interrelationships among earth surface processes, ecological systems, and human activities. Also included are links to new findings and programs concerning Earth...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Ap Environmental Science: Science, Matter, Energy, Systems

For Students 9th - 10th
Through interactive activities, reading exercises, and lab activities, students study how science, matter, energy, and systems are interrelated.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Connecting Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How do trees help you breathe? This activity covers the connection between cellular respiration and photosynthesis and identifies the products and reactants of each.
Lesson Plan
Other

Antarctic Geological Drilling: Environmental Literacy Framework Activities

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An impressive collection of lessons on climate science and climate change. The entire book can be downloaded. As well, each lesson has its own page with some combination of background information, PowerPoints, images, maps, glossaries,...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Moebius Strips

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students make Moebius strips and use them to demonstrate the interconnectedness of an environment. They will explore the natural cycles (water, oxygen/carbon dioxide, carbon, nitrogen) within the environment.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Flow of Matter in Ecosystems

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this module, students will learn about the cycles of nature (water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) that support the flow of nutrient matter through an...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Lasers, Let's Find 'Em!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research particular types of lasers and find examples of how they are used in technology today. Teams present their findings by means of PowerPoint presentations, videos or brochures. The class takes notes on the presentations...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Great Algae Race

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In a multi-week experiment, student groups gather data from the photobioreactors that they build to investigate growth conditions that make algae thrive best.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Oceanography

For Students 9th - 10th
Join NASA in its study of oceanography and learn about the Earth system, the physical ocean, and life in the ocean. Try out the Giovanni: Earth Data Visualization Tool and access satellite-derived data to enhance the learning experience.