Carbon Dioxide-Oxygen Cycle
Supporting
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to identify the significance of the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle to the survival of plants and animals.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that there are relationships, systems, and cycles within environments.
Science Background
The Carbon Cycle: NASA Earth Observatory (website) - Detailed and clear overview of the carbon cycle.
The Carbon Cycle
NASA Earth Observatory, earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Understanding the Global Carbon Cycle: Woods Hole Research Center (website) - Short description of the carbon cycle and contributors to global warming.
Understanding the Global Carbon Cycle
Woods Hole Research Center, www.whrc.org
Oxygen Cycling: Geography4Kids (website) - Brief overview of elements of the oxygen cycle.
Oxygen Cycling
Geography4Kids, www.geography4kids.com
The Carbon Cycle: Geography4Kids (website) - Brief overview of elements of the carbon cycle.
The Carbon Cycle
Geography4Kids, www.geography4kids.com
Photosynthesis: Pearson Education (website) – Series of pages and animations that provide a thorough introduction to the science behind photosynthesis.
Signature Lesson
The Carbon Dioxide – Oxygen Cycle: NOAA (PDF) – This lesson will help the students identify the components and interactions of the carbon dioxide and oxygen cycles. Be certain to point out to students that plants, like animals, need oxygen for respiration (breakdown of food molecules), even through oxygen is given off by plants as a byproduct of photosynthesis.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Burning Curiosity: BioEd Online (website) - Students observe a burning candle in a sealed jar and heat a small amount of sugar to learn about how energy from photosynthesis is stored in carbon-containing molecules, such as sugar, in plants.
Burning Curiosity
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org
Carbon Cycle Role Play: California Academy of Sciences (website) - Students learn that there is a finite amount of carbon on earth, which moves around in the environment, from one place to another.
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
What Goes Around Comes Around: Utah Education Network (website) - The paths of water, carbon, and nitrogen are cyclic. In this lesson students will model the cycles of matter by creating an ecosystem in a jar. They will also give research-based oral presentations on the carbon, water, and nitrogen cycles.
What Goes Around Comes Around
Utah Education Network, www.uen.org
Assessment Ideas
Have students answer the following questions:
- Why is oxygen important to living organisms?
- How do plants use carbon dioxide?
- What role does the sun play in food production?
- What would happen to the atmosphere if too many trees were cut down?
- What happens to the planet as carbon dioxide levels increase in the atmosphere?
Literature Connections
Carbon-Oxygen and Nitrogen Cycles. Harman, Rebecca (ISBN-13: 978-1403470676)
Photosynthesis: Changing Sunlight into Food. Kalman, Boobie (ISBN-13: 978-0778777168)
Understanding Photosynthesis with Max Axiom, Super Scientist. O’Donnell, Liam (ISBN-13: 978-0736878937)
Gas, Trees, and Car Turds. Johnson, Kirk (ISBN-13: 978-1555916664)
Take a Deep Breath: What is CO2? Morrison, Yvonne (ISBN-13: 978-0531177907)
Additional Resources
Illuminating Photosynthesis: NOVA (website) - Photosynthesis in plants and a few bacteria is responsible for feeding nearly all life on Earth. Explore this interactive website to take a closer look at photosynthesis.
Illuminating Photosynthesis
NOVA on PBS, www.pbs.org
A Student’s Guide to Global Climate Change: EPA (website) - This page focuses on the science and impacts of global warming or climate change, and on actions that students can take to help address climate change.
A Student’s Guide to Global Climate Change
Environmental Protection Agency, epa.gov
TEKS Navigation
Grade 5
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