April 27-May 1

Title: Biogeochemical Cycles

Instructions:

Note: This activity is designed for two 45-minute class periods or one 90-minute block.

Instructions:

1. This is a webquest. In it you will search for information that will answer questions about the water, carbon/oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorous cycles.

2. This activity consists of 5 Tasks. Using the websites listed below on the webquest, answer all questions in the spaces provided.

Task 1: Review of Biogeochemical Cycles

Use the link below to watch the “Biogeochemical Cycling” video by Bozeman Science. As you watch, answer the following questions. URL: http://www.bozemanscience.com/biogeochemical-cycling

Task 2: The Water Cycle

Introduction:

Precipitation, evaporation, and condensation are all terms that you recognize, but what do they really mean? They are all part of the water cycle, which is a complex process that not only gives us water to drink, and food to eat, but also helps our plants grow. Only about 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh, and 1% of that water can be used for many human purposes. Why can’t we use the other 2% of the fresh water found on the Earth? What about the other 97% of the water found in the world? To find these answers and to discover more, come along for an interactive journey through the water cycle!

Part 1: Use the link below to complete the Water Cycle for Schools interactive from the USGS website. Hover over each step of the water cycle to read about each feature. Then insert two facts about each into the table.

URL: https://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle-kids-adv.html

Part 2: Use the word bank to label each step in the water cycle.

Task 3: The Carbon Cycle

Introduction

Carbon is an element that is found in all organisms, fossil fuels, soil, the ocean, and the atmosphere. We take part in the carbon cycle by breathing CO2 into the air; autotrophs participate by removing atmospheric CO2 for use in building leaves, stems and other organs through the process of photosynthesis. As we burn more and more fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, we release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere- more than can be removed by oceans and photosynthetic organisms. Within the atmosphere, this extra CO2 traps heat. As more CO2 accumulates, the Earth becomes warmer through a process known as the greenhouse effect.

Part 1: Use the link below to watch the Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle video by the Amoeba Sisters.

STOP THE VIDEO @ 4:00 minutes! Answer the questions below as you watch.

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHqEthRCqQ4&t=160s

Part 2: Use the link below to read about the carbon cycle on the Windows to the Universe website. Use the information and word bank to label each step of the Carbon Cycle.

URL: http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html

Task 4: The Nitrogen Cycle

Introduction

The nitrogen cycle represents one of the most important nutrient cycles found in terrestrial ecosystems. Nitrogen is used by living organisms to produce a number of complex organic molecules like amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The majority of nitrogen is found in the atmosphere, where it exists as a gas (mainly N2). Other major reserves of nitrogen include organic matter in soil and the oceans. Despite its large quantity in the atmosphere, nitrogen is often the most limiting nutrient for plant growth. This problem occurs because most plants can only take up nitrogen in two solid forms: ammonium ion (NH4+) and the ion nitrate

(NO3-). Specialized bacteria “fix” nitrogen, converting it to a form that can be used by organisms. By fixing nitrogen, these bacteria are a critical link between atmospheric nitrogen and life on Earth.

Part 1: Use the link below to watch the Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle video by the Amoeba Sisters.

BEGIN THE VIDEO @ 4:00! Answer the questions below as you watch.

Full URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHqEthRCqQ4&t=160s

Part 2: Use the link below to read about the nitrogen cycle on the Ducksters website. As you read, define the following processes. Full URL: https://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/nitrogen_cycle.php

Part 3: Use the link below to take the quiz on the nitrogen cycle on the Ducksters website. Write down the correct answers to the questions below.

URL: https://www.ducksters.com/science/quiz/nitrogen_cycle_questions.php

Task 5: The Phosphorous Cycle

Introduction

Phosphorus is an important chemical for plants and animals. It is part of DNA, certain fats in cell membranes, bones, teeth and shell of animals. Phosphorus circulates through water, the Earth's crust, and living organisms. It is not in the atmosphere and is most likely to enter food chains following the slow weathering of rock deposits. Some of the released phosphates become dissolved in soil water which is taken up by plant roots. Phosphorus is therefore the main limiting factor for plant growth in most soils and aquatic ecosystems. Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants and/or herbivores. Dead organisms and animal wastes return phosphorus to the soil, to streams, and eventually to ocean floors as rock deposits.

Part 1: Use the link below to watch the “Phosphorus Cycle” video by Moo Moo Math & Science. As you watch the video, answer the questions below.

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfW6JJ0ZiG0

Part 2: Click on the link below to access the “Phosphorus Cycle” interactive by Discover Biology. Click the “Narrated” icon to move throughout the interactive.

Interactive activity: Here

Translations of instructions: Instrucciones 使用说明 Instruções инструкции تعليمات:

Title: Feedback Loops

Instructions:

1. Review the notes on Feedback loops found here: Feedback Loop Notes

2. Then using your computer, tablet or mobile device, navigate to the website: https://authoring.concord.org/sequences/47/activities/281/pages/1747/73d90656-ed7d-407c-acf3-55585099971a You should see the picture below on your screen.

3. If you need additional help watch the video found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrEM3LHvjI0

Activity 1: Ice on Earth’s Surface

Explore albedo in the model by changing the amount of ice covering the surface. Record your responses to the questions below.

Click Next at bottom of screen to go to Activity 2

Activity 2: Clouds

Use the Add Cloud and Remove Cloud buttons to change the number of clouds in the Earth system model. Record your responses to the question below.

Click Next at bottom of screen to go to Activity 3

Activity 3 Melting Glaciers

Observe the two pictures and record your answers to the questions below.

Click Next at bottom of screen to go to Activity 4

Activity 4 Arctic Sea Ice

Use the Graph to answer the questions below.

Click Next at bottom of screen to go to Activity 5

Activity 5 Feedback: Positive or Negative?

Use the Graph provided to answer the questions below.

Click Next at bottom of screen to go to Activity 6

Activity 6 Clouds: Cooling or warming?

Based on the information provided answer the question below.

Interactive activity: Here

Translations of instructions Instrucciones 使用说明 Instruções инструкции تعليمات:

Title: Earth's Spheres

Instructions:

Work through the task. Some ask you to review notes, drag and drop boxes, watch a video or fill in boxes in the slides.

Your teacher can see anything you type in the boxes. If you have questions for your teacher, you can add them to each slide by clicking the comment button in the toolbar above. Type the question and then click “comment” and it will be visible to your teacher.

Task 1: Earth's Spheres

Review the Notes here.

Then Drag and drop the name of the sphere to the appropriate arrow.

In the box below, explain how you determined which sphere this picture represents.

Task 2: Earth's Sphere

1. Watch the video below (Click on the play button).

2. As you watch, think about the question: What is the biosphere and how do the other spheres support it?

3. In the box below, answer the following question: What is the biosphere, and how do the three other spheres (atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere) support it?

Interactive activity: Here

Translations of instructions: Instrucciones 使用说明 Instruções инструкции تعليمات:

Title: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Instructions:

1. Review the Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Notes.

2. Open the “Photosynthesis Worksheet” assignment.

3. Engage in this animation. The animation series contains seven parts.

a. Read the questions for each part on the Photosynthesis Worksheet assignment before watching that section in the animation.

b. After watching each part, answer the questions in the spaces provided.

c. After completing all seven parts of the animation, answer the summary questions in Part 8.

Interactive activity: Here

Translations of instructions: Instrucciones 使用说明 Instruções инструкции تعليمات:

Title: Focus on Language - Photosynthesis

Instructions:

The video below is about photosynthesis, but it is for little kids. Your job is to change the script (words) so that the language in the video is the kind used by high school students like you.

First, watch the video linked here: "Photosynthesis in plants Animation for Kids"

Then, look at the example in the orange box. It shows you how you are supposed to replace the words highlighted in yellow with the academic English that you use in high school.

When you do this activity, make sure to replace the yellow-highlighted word with a word that means the same thing. In this activity there is a word bank that you should use to choose a new word.

Finally, look at the script. You will see that in some places there are red words and blanks. For these words you do not choose a word from the word bank above. Your job is to replace the red words with an academic English word that you know.

When you are finished, use the answer key at the end of this document to check your answers.

Interactive activity: Here

Translations of instructions: Instrucciones 使用说明 Instruções инструкции تعليمات: