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Description
In this active game, students follow the path of carbon through the carbon cycle to learn where carbon is stored and how it circulates. In the first round of the game, students move from one component of the Earth to the next, discovering there are short and long term carbon cycles and that the short carbon cycle is closely linked to energy flow in ecosystems. The second round highlights how human actions, through the use of fossil fuels and clearing of the world’s forests, results in an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
General Assessment
What skills does this resource explicitly teach?
Students learn to observe, recognize connections, and practice system thinking.
Strengths
- The activity reflects the benefits of simulations in which students learn by doing rather than listening. Students imagine themselves to be carbon atoms and experience the carbon life cycle as they move from one station to another in the activity.
- The activity moves from understanding to action as students reflect on how they might help reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.
- Teachers are provided with relevant background information and suggestions as to how to check for student understanding as the activity progresses.
Recommendation of how and where to use it
The activity is particularly relevant for those units of study that examine climate change within the context of the carbon cycle. Extension activities to enhance the learning are suggested.
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.
- Step 1Select a province
- Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Planet Earth
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environment and Outdoor Education: Environmental Core
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Chemistry
- Knowledge and Employability Science: Environmental Chemistry (Social and Environmental Contexts Emphasis)
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 10-4 (Knowledge and Employability Science): Investigating Matter and Energy in Environmental Systems
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 20: The Changing Earth
- Grade 12
- British Columbia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 7: Earth and its climate have changed over geological time
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Energy is conserved and its transformation can affect living things and the environment
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth Science 11: The transfer of energy through the atmosphere creates weather and is affected by climate change
- Science for Citizenship 11: Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 12: Human activities cause changes in the global climate system
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Physical Geography 12: Interactions between human activities and the atmosphere affect local and global weather and climate
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Learning and Living Sustainably (STSE)
- Science 10 Science for Sustainable Societies
- Science 10 Science for Sustainable Societies: Scientific Literacy
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Introduction to Environmental Science 120: Investigating Environmental Issues
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Chemistry and the Environment
- Knowledge and Employability Science: Environmental Chemistry (Social and Environmental Contexts Emphasis)
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Experiential Science 10, Terrestial Systems: Climatology and Meteorology
- Science 10-4 (Knowledge and Employability Science): Investigating Matter and Energy in Environmental Systems
- Science 10: Energy Flow in Global Systems
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 20: The Changing Earth
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 30: Chemistry and the Environment
- Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Natural Resources around the World: Use and Sustainability
- Physical Patterns in a Changing World
- Grade 9
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science (Academic):Earth and Space Science: Climate Change
- Science (Applied)::Earth and Space Science: Earth's Dynamic Climate
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science (Workplace Prep.) Human Impact on the Environment
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Forces of Nature: processes and Disasters (Univ./College Prep.): Systems: Interactions and Interdependece
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Environment & Resource Management (Univ./College Prep.):Sustainability and Stewardship of Natural Resources
- Prince Edward Island
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Geography 521A, Global Studies: Physical Patterns of the World
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 621A: Environmental Challenges and Successes
- Quebec
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Earth and Space
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Contemporary World: Environment
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Applied Science & Technology: The Earth and Space
- Environmental Science & Technology: The Earth and Space
- Science & Technology: The Earth and Space
- Science and the Environment: The Earth and Space
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon Territory
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 7: Earth and its climate have changed over geological time
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Energy is conserved and its transformation can affect living things and the environment
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth Science 11: The transfer of energy through the atmosphere creates weather and is affected by climate change
- Science for Citizenship 11: Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 12: Human activities cause changes in the global climate system
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Physical Geography 12: Interactions between human activities and the atmosphere affect local and global weather and climate
Themes Addressed
Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)
- Climate Change
Citizenship (1)
- Ecological Footprint
Energy (2)
- Energy Generation
- Energy Use
