Lesson Idea | Carbon Cycle Role-Play

Appropriate for: 4th grade - 12th grade.
Standards for: 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, and 12th grade.

Prep Time: 10 minutes.

Activity Time: 45 minutes.

Subjects: Developing & Using Models, and Earth & Space Science.

How does the finite amount of carbon on this planet move around in the environment, from one place to another? How do the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact? In this active demonstration, students will model the carbon cycle, and consider way in which human actions play a role.

Objectives

Students will be able to:
1. recognize that there is a finite amount of carbon on earth.
2. model how carbon moves around in the environment, from one place to another.
3. identify how humans influence the carbon cycle.

Materials

- 14-28 of a small, lightweight object to represent carbon (e.g. ping pong balls).
- Carbon Cycle Role-Play Cards (7 total, one per group).
- Chalk, if needed for drawing regions.

Teacher Prep

1. Read through the Role Play Summary Table at the end of the lesson to get a better understanding of the specific flows your students will be learning. Note that the entire carbon cycle is composed of even more specific flows between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere than those discussed here. This role-play teaches an age-appropriate version of the carbon cycle.
2. Collect 14-28 of the small, lightweight objects that will represent carbon (e.g. ping pong balls).
3. Print double-sided role-play cards.
4. Designate a large open space for this activity. If working outside, use chalk to draw out the regions shown below. If in the classroom, draw a picture on the board of the three regions and designate different areas of the classroom to represent the ocean, the land, and the atmosphere.