Activity 3.3: Tracing Carbon Through an Ecosystem (30 min)

Target Student Performance

Students name carbon pools and the processes that move carbon atoms among pools in terrestrial ecosystems.

Resources You Provide

Resources Provided

Setup

Print a copy for each student of 3.3 Tracing Carbon Through Ecosystems Graphic Organizer. Set up a computer and projector for 3.3 Tracing Carbon Through Ecosystems PPT.

Directions

1. Use the instructional model to show students where they are in the course of the unit.

Assessment

Use the discussion as a formative assessment. If your students are having trouble describing carbon atoms moving through pools, you may want to review the graphic organizer and the patterns.

Tips

For this activity you will need to revisit some materials from Activity 3.2 Carbon Dice Game.

Differentiation
Modifications

If students need additional practice thinking about carbon movement, use the 3.3 Supplement PPT with animations of carbon movement.

Extending the Learning

Challenge the students to think about what would happen to a plant or animal in this ecosystem if they could not perform cellular respiration.