All About Carbon
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Provided by: EPA|Published on: August 10, 2023
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article and linked video details the movement of carbon through the air, soil, oceans, and living organisms through processes such as photosynthesis, consumption, and decomposition.
- It uses the bathtub analogy to help students understand the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, discusses how fossil fuels are formed, and gives insight into what is throwing the carbon cycle out of balance.
- Students will learn that carbon dioxide is cycled into and out of the Earth's atmosphere in multiple ways, fossil fuel formation takes millions of years, and humans are causing a dramatic rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests.
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: EPA
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video is easy to understand and connects to many topics.
- The video talks about the ocean's role in the carbon cycle.
Prerequisites
- Students need to know what carbon dioxide is and have a basic understanding of Earth's systems.
- Students should be familiar with the terms photosynthesis, fossil fuels, and decomposition.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This video would be a great introduction to biology and chemistry classes that are learning the specifics of cellular respiration, photosynthesis, chemical reactions, the rock cycle, or decomposition.
- Middle school Earth science classes could use this video to supplement a lesson about the weathering of rocks, the slow carbon cycle, ocean sediments, or other processes that release or store carbon dioxide.
- The video could be used to help explain the greenhouse effect and how human activities are connected to increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide.
- Consider having students explore all of the tabs after watching and reading about carbon dioxide and making it a complete lesson or unit.
This video resource from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains the carbon cycle using clear animations. The bathtub example in this video perfectly illustrates the carbon cycle. In this bathtub, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the water and in the natural cycle inflows and outflows are balanced, so the water level (CO2) in the tub (atmosphere) remains constant. Currently, the burning of fossil fuels is adding too much water (CO2) to the bathtub (atmosphere), so the result is sure to be a wet bathroom floor (global climate change). This video features colorful graphics, clear narration and a call to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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