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What Goes Around,
Comes Around
Exploring the Interdependence of Factors in
an Ecosystem Using Earth’s Cycles
Emporia State
University
July 2007
Stacey Hart, Brandi Miller, Rosemary
McGuire
Unit One
How do abiotic and biotic factors drive
Earth cycles?
The purpose of this unit is for the students to be
able to understand the role that each of
Earth’s cycles play in an ecosystem, and apply
this knowledge to explaining natural
phenomena.
Instructional Goals
 Students will observe phase changes in
water and relate them to processes
involved in the hydrological cycle
 Students will model the processes in the
carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle
 Students will trace a particle of nitrogen
and carbon through their respective
cycles to observe their
interconnectedness
Sequence
 Activity 1. Brainstorm: “What do plants
need for life?”
 Lab 1. Hydrological Cycle
 Activity 2. Demo: Cyclical Cycle
 Worksheet 1: Hydrological Cycle
 Activity 3. Demo: Magic Voice
Sequence
 Activity 4. Demo: Science Smoothie
 Worksheet 2: Carbon Dioxide- Oxygen
Cycle
 Enrichment 1: Carbon Dioxide- Oxygen
cycle
Sequence
 Activity 6: Nomadic Nitrogen
 Worksheet 3: Nomadic Nitrogen
 Activity 7: Cruisin’ Carbon
 Worksheet 4: Cruisin’ Carbon
Standards
 Standard 3: Life Science
 Benchmark 4: The student will understand the
interdependence of organisms and their interaction with the
physical environment

Indicator 1: understands atoms and molecules on the
earth cycle among the living and nonliving components of the
biosphere.
Ex: The essential chemical elements for life circulate in
the biosphere in characteristic paths known as
biogeochemical cycles (e.g., cycles for water, nitrogen,
carbon, oxygen, etc)

 Standard 4: Earth/Space Science
Standards
 Benchmark 1: The student will understand that the
structure of the earth system is continuously
changing due to earth’s physical and chemical
processes.
 Indicator 2: Models Earth’s cycles, contructive and
destructive processes and weather systems

Ex: Creates rock cycle and water cycle
dioramas.
1. Brainstorming
Through leading questions we will draw out
the substances necessary for plants to live
Carbon Dioxide
Food
Water
Sunlight
2. Hydrological Cycle
Evaporation, Condensation, Transpiration,
Precipitation
3. Cyclical Cycles
Formative Assessment Probe that checks
for enduring understanding
Teacher Demo
4.Worksheet 1:
Hydrological Cycle
Checks for understanding and knowledge of
vocabulary
5. Demo: Magic Voice
Teacher demonstration to model
respiration
Phenolpthalein/NaOH solution
6. Science Smoothie
Teacher demonstration that models
photosynthesis
7. Worksheet 2: Carbon
Dioxide-Oxygen Cycle
Check for enduring understanding with
basic formulas based on demonstration
8. Nomadic Nitrogen
9. Carbon Cycle
Cruisin' Carbon Game