Teacher Steps
Begin by reviewing the lesson below.
Incorporate the additional resources provided on this page.
Complete the assessment at the bottom of the page.
General Information
Time: 60–90 minutes
Students will:
Learn about the carbon cycle
Understand how seasonal variations affect global atmospheric CO2 concentrations
Understand how CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are changing overall in recent decades
National Standards
Content Standard A: Science as inquiry
Content Standard D: Earth and space science
Content Standard E: Science and technology
Carbon Through the Seasons (click to access the lesson) - Environmental Protection Agency
Description: Students learn about the carbon cycle and understand how concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere vary as the seasons change. Students also learn that even with these seasonal variations, the overall amount of CO2 is increasing in the atmosphere as a result of people’s activities, which are changing the natural carbon cycle.
Adapted From: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gsd/outreach/education/poet/CO2-Seasons.pdf.
Introduction to Carbon (video on the right) - http://youtu.be/vrDekmRbBVk
Extension
Three-minute YouTube video about the history of global atmospheric CO2. http://youtu.be/bbgUE04Y-Xg