The Carbon Dioxide / Oxygen Cycle (5.9D)

The student is expected to identify the significance of the carbon dioxide/oxygen cycle to the survival of plants and animals.

Scholastic StudyJams video:

• The Carbon Cycle 

 Other Links to Check Out: 

REMEMBER: Carbon is an element that can be found in ALL living things! 

 

Remember this picture that we talked about in class:

 

1. Carbon dioxide is found in the atmosphere. 

2. Tree's take carbon dioxide in and use it during photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, the tree breaks carbon dioxide apart. The tree releases the oxygen back into the atmosphere and keeps the carbon.

3. Eventually, some of that carbon from the tree gets transferred into the soil.

4. People and animals breathe in the oxygen that the trees and plans release back into the atmosphere. In this picture, the bacteria is breathing in the oxygen. The bacteria is also taking in some of that carbon from the soil or the tree that it is decomposing. 

5. The oxygen that people and animals breathe in circulates through our bodies. As it circulates, it picks up some carbon that we don't need and turns into carbon dioxide. We breathe out this carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and the cycle begins again!

Vocabulary: 

Carbon Cycle: The movement of carbon on Earth by the processes of respiration and photosynthesis

Oxygen: A gas produced by plants during photosynthesis that animals use for respiration

Carbon Dioxide: A gas produced by animals during respiration that plants use to make food, water, and oxygen

Respiration: A process by which animals use oxygen and food to make energy and carbon dioxide

Elodea: An aquatic plant

Bubble: Gas or air in a liquid