Cycling Through Earth: Hydrologic and Carbon Cycles
Lesson Description
Video Resource
The Hydrologic and Carbon Cycles: Always Recycle! - Crash Course Ecology #8
CrashCourse
Key Concepts
- Hydrologic Cycle
- Carbon Cycle
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Reservoirs
- Climate Change
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to describe the key processes and reservoirs within the hydrologic and carbon cycles.
- Students will be able to explain how human activities impact the carbon cycle and contribute to climate change.
- Students will be able to analyze the interconnectedness of Earth's systems through biogeochemical cycles.
Educator Instructions
- Introduction (5 mins)
Begin by engaging students with a brief discussion about recycling and the importance of cycles in nature. Introduce the concept of biogeochemical cycles and their significance for life on Earth. Briefly mention the video and its purpose: to explain the hydrologic and carbon cycles. - Hydrologic Cycle (15 mins)
Show the first section of the video (1:15-5:12). After watching, discuss the different components of the hydrologic cycle: precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and evapotranspiration. Emphasize the role of the sun in driving the cycle and the importance of oceans as major reservoirs. Discuss the processes of sublimation and deposition. Clarify the reason for the ocean's salinity. - Carbon Cycle (20 mins)
Show the second section of the video (5:12-end). Discuss the different reservoirs of carbon: atmosphere, plants, fossil fuels, and oceans. Explain the processes of photosynthesis and respiration and their roles in carbon cycling. Discuss the formation of fossil fuels and limestone. Explain how burning fossil fuels affects the carbon cycle and contributes to global warming. Highlight the melting of permafrost as a positive feedback loop exacerbating climate change. - Wrap-up & Discussion (10 mins)
Summarize the key concepts of both cycles and their interconnections. Reiterate the impact of human activities on these cycles and the implications for the environment. Open the floor for questions and further discussion.
Interactive Exercises
- Cycle Diagram
Have students create diagrams illustrating the hydrologic and carbon cycles, labeling the different reservoirs and processes involved. They can use different colors to represent different forms of water or carbon. - Carbon Footprint Calculator
Have students use an online carbon footprint calculator to estimate their personal carbon emissions. Discuss ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Discussion Questions
- How would a change in one part of the hydrologic cycle affect other parts of the cycle?
- What are some specific human activities that contribute to increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?
- How could we reduce our impact on the carbon and hydrologic cycles?
- What are the potential consequences of continued climate change?
Skills Developed
- Critical Thinking
- Data Analysis
- Scientific Modeling
- Problem Solving
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1:
Which of the following is NOT a major reservoir in the hydrologic cycle?
Correct Answer: Fossil Fuels
Question 2:
The process of water changing from a liquid to a gas is called:
Correct Answer: Evaporation
Question 3:
The conversion of a substance directly from a solid to a gas is called:
Correct Answer: Sublimation
Question 4:
What is the primary way carbon is removed from the atmosphere?
Correct Answer: Photosynthesis
Question 5:
Which of the following is a major reservoir of carbon?
Correct Answer: Fossil Fuels
Question 6:
Burning fossil fuels increases the amount of which gas in the atmosphere?
Correct Answer: Carbon Dioxide
Question 7:
The process by which plants release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere is called:
Correct Answer: Respiration
Question 8:
What are the tiny plant-like organisms in the ocean that use carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate shells called?
Correct Answer: Phytoplankton
Question 9:
The process of water being sucked up through plant roots and moving up to the leaves where it evaporates is called:
Correct Answer: Evapotranspiration
Question 10:
What happens to the salt as the water evaporates from the ocean?
Correct Answer: The salt stays behind
Fill in the Blank Questions
Question 1:
The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth is called the ________ cycle.
Correct Answer: hydrologic
Question 2:
When water vapor in the atmosphere cools and turns into a liquid, it is called ________.
Correct Answer: condensation
Question 3:
Water flowing across the land surface to the lowest point is called ________.
Correct Answer: runoff
Question 4:
The combined process of evaporation from plants is called ________.
Correct Answer: evapotranspiration
Question 5:
The element that is the main component of all living organisms is ________.
Correct Answer: carbon
Question 6:
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the process of ________.
Correct Answer: photosynthesis
Question 7:
Carbon-rich geological deposits like coal and natural gas are called ________ ________.
Correct Answer: fossil fuels
Question 8:
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon in the form of ________ ________ into the atmosphere.
Correct Answer: carbon dioxide
Question 9:
Frozen wetlands that contain dead plant matter in places like Siberia, northern Canada, and Alaska is called ________.
Correct Answer: permafrost
Question 10:
When fossil fuels are burned, it releases carbon dioxide that was stored for ________ of years.
Correct Answer: millions
Educational Standards
Teaching Materials
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