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Carbon - The Short and the Long

Elementary, Middle

Description

This fun outdoor game introduces students to the importance of Carbon as a building block of all life and the fundamental role of the carbon cycle in sustaining a healthy planet. As the class moves carbon particles between air, plants, animals and soil they will learn how this vital element supports life and is released back into the atmosphere through natural processes like decomposition.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This activity supports science curriculum investigating food chains and food webs, ecological roles of producers and consumers, soil composition and human impacts on climate.  

The game would also be ideal as a precursor to an Earth Day project focused on using carbon footprint calculations to initiate conservation.  Students could identify and describe how personal action goals such as walking to school can reduce individual climate impacts.  A class could also evaluate the school carbon footprint and prepare a community plan that engages students and teachers in energy use reductions. 

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 1
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      • Science
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        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions.
  • British Columbia
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Manitoba
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        • Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
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        • Air and Water in the Environment
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        • Diversity of Living Things
  • New Brunswick
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      • Health Education
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        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
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        • Our Local Environment : Learning and Living Sustainably
        • Our Local Environment : Scientific Literacy
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        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
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        • Air and Water in the Environment
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        • Diversity of Life
  • Northwest Territories
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        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
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        • Earth and Space Systems: Air and Water in the Environment
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
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        • Earth & Space Systems: Soils in the Environment
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
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      • Science
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        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Nova Scotia
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        • Science 1: Needs of Living Things
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        • Science 2: Air and Water in the Environment
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        • Science 4: Habitats
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        • Science 6: Diversity of Life
  • Nunavut
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        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth and Space Systems: Air and Water in the Environment
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
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      • Science
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        • Earth & Space Systems: Soils in the Environment
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
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      • Science
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        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
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        • Life Systems: Diversity of Living Things
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
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    • Grade 2
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        • Air & Water in the Environment
        • Animal Growth and Changes:Investigating the Needs and Life Cycles of an Organism
    • Grade 3
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring Soils
        • Plant Growth & Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Diversity of Life
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
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    • Grade 1
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Air and Water in the Environment
        • Animal Growth and Changes
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring Soils
        • Plant Growth and Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats and Communities
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 6: Life Science: Diversity of Living Things
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment

Themes Addressed

Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)

  • Climate Change

Ecosystems (1)

  • Interdependence

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