Download Cycling of Matter

Cycling of Matter
Guided Notes, Videos and
Interactive Lessons
CYCLES IN THE BIOSPHERE
• What do you think of when you hear the word “recycle?”
• Do you recycle? If so, WHY?
• Natural processes cycle matter through the biosphere, which
provides the nutrients needed for organisms to function.
• Matter – anything that takes up space and has mass.
• The Law of Conservation states that matter is neither created nor
destroyed and must therefore be recycled into different forms.
Cycles in the Biosphere
• Matter (nutrients) cycles through the biosphere involves
both living organisms and physical processes. This
exchange is known as the biogeochemical cycle.
• Bio – Living organisms (ex: food consumption)
• Geo – Geological processes (ex: weathering)
• Chemical – Chemical processes (ex: photosynthesis)
Water Cycle
• Review the water cycle with the “Read, Run, Write” literacy strategy.
• Turn your chairs to make a group of four.
• One person will be responsible for reading a passage for 60 seconds.
• They will return to the group and relay as much information as they can
remember.
• The group will fill in as much as they can and then send the next “reader.”
Water Cycle
Water continuously moves through the environment in what is called the water cycle,
or hydrologic cycle. The water cycle involves water forming into atmospheric water
vapor, condensing to form precipitation, falling to the ground or bodies of surface
water, and evaporating again to form atmospheric water vapor. The hydrologic cycle
does not create water, but it cleans and restores it for future use. Evaporation is the
process of water going from liquid to gas by exposure to air and heat. Evaporation is
greatest over bodies of water. Transpiration is the release of water vapor through the
leaves of plants. Transpiration is greater over land where there is more vegetation.
Condensation takes place when water vapor (gas) collects together in clouds and
becomes a liquid again. When water joins together and becomes too heavy it returns to
the earth in the form of precipitation – fog, mist, rain, sleet, hail and snow.
Water Cycle
Water continuously moves through the environment in what is called the water cycle,
or hydrologic cycle. The water cycle involves water forming into atmospheric water
vapor, condensing to form precipitation, falling to the ground or bodies of surface
water, and evaporating again to form atmospheric water vapor. The hydrologic cycle
does not create water, but it cleans and restores it for future use. Evaporation is the
process of water going from liquid to gas by exposure to air and heat. Evaporation is
greatest over bodies of water. Transpiration is the release of water vapor through the
leaves of plants. Transpiration is greater over land where there is more vegetation.
Condensation takes place when water vapor (gas) collects together in clouds and
becomes a liquid again. When water joins together and becomes too heavy it returns
to the earth in the form of precipitation – fog, mist, rain, sleet, hail and snow.
Water Cycle
• Water cycle video tutorial
Carbon Cycle
• All living organisms contain the element carbon.
• Carbon Cycle summary:
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Carbon dioxide is released from animals during respiration and enters atmosphere.
Plants capture carbon dioxide and use sunlight to make sugar (glucose – C6H12O6).
Sugars are used by plant or eaten by animals.
Plants and animals decay, decomposers return carbon to atmosphere and soil.
• Can be converted into fossil fuels over long periods of time
Carbon Cycle
• Carbon Cycle and Global Warming?
• Fossils fuels naturally break down over thousands/millions of
years and return carbon to the atmosphere.
• By burning fossil fuels (for oil, gas, etc), humans have released
large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
• Carbon is a greenhouse gas – it traps the sun’s heat energy.
Carbon Cycle
• Let’s act it out by becoming carbon atoms!
• Carbon atoms can be found in the following places (stations):
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Atmosphere, Plants, Animals, Soil, Ocean, Deep Ocean & Fossil Fuels
Roll a die to figure out where you go (or don’t go) next
Remember, you are a carbon atom!
Fill in your chart as you go and then answer the analysis questions
when done
Phosphorous Cycle
• Watch the phosphorus cycle tutorial/animation and answer questions as you go.
Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen is an element found in proteins. Why are proteins important?
• Nitrogen is abundant in our atmosphere, but atmospheric nitrogen (N2)
is unusable to plants and animals.
• It must therefore be “FIXED” before it can be used!
• Nitrogen Fixation : Converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that is
usable by plants
• So what/who “fixes” nitrogen??
Nitrogen cycle
• Nitrogen Fixation:
• Lightning
• The energy can blast apart nitrogen gas into usable nitrates
• Some species of bacteria can fix nitrogen!
• Found in soil, water, roots of certain plants (legumes – soy,
peanuts, alfalfa)
Nitrogen Cycle
• How does nitrogen return to the atmosphere?
• Fixed nitrogen re-enters soil through decomposed animal
waste and decaying organisms
• Some species of bacteria are capable of denitrification
• “Unfix” nitrogen back into unusable nitrates, which return to the
atmosphere
Nitrogen Cycle
• Confused yet?? Let’s act it out!
• Nitrogen atoms can be found in the following places (stations):
• Atmosphere, Soil, Plants, Animals, Atmosphere, Ocean
• Roll a die to figure out where you go (or don’t go) next
• Remember, you are a nitrogen atom!
• Fill in your chart as you go and then answer the analysis questions
when done