Overview

# The Carbon Cycle

As a high school or undergraduate Chemistry or Earth Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching topics in environmental chemistry such as the carbon cycle or biogeochemical cycles. This lesson plan allows students to understand the carbon cycle, its components, and the flow among the different components of this biogeochemical cycle. The activity will introduce the link between the carbon cycle and climate. It will also explore how human activity (such as increased fossil fuel use) may affect the natural carbon cycle, and may thus cause climate-related changes. Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry.

Grade Level: Highechool, Undergraduate
Discipline: Chemistry
Topics in Discipline: Environmental Chemistry, Carbon Cycle, Biogeochemical Cycles
Climate Topic: Long-term Cycles and Feedback Mechanisms
Location: Global
Languages: English
Access: Online
Duration: 80-100 min

Learning outcomes

• describe the global carbon cycle and its components
• explain the flow among the components in the carbon cycle
• discuss the role of the carbon cycle in climate
• analyze and discuss the impact of human activities (such as the use of fossil fuels) on CO2 levels in the carbon cycle
• predict the possible effects of excess carbon in the system on the Earth’s climate