CYCLES IN NATURE
Cycles in Nature: Nutrient Cycling
In our last unit, we learned how energy flows. This energy begins with the sun, which is then transported to, and trapped within, the chloroplasts of plants. The energy is then stored inside glucose molecules through photosynthesis. We release this stored energy to form usable energy for our body in the form of ATP by the process of cellular respiration. Wasted energy is released in the form of heat.
In this unit, we will investigate that the earth is "green" because it recycles important nutrients needed for life. The three recyclable nutrients that we will be learning about are water, nitrogen, and carbon. These nutrients can be found in both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) sources. Do you remember how matter is neither created nor destroyed, just changed? We will explore the different forms or phases of water (a review of 2nd grade and 5th grade science!). We will learn that although nitrogen is the most abundant gas in our atmosphere, it is tricky for living things to get it in a usable form. Can you imagine that a carbon atom that you ate today during lunch could have once been a part of a dinosaur? We will follow the amazing journey of an atom of carbon through living and non-living things.
In our last unit, we learned how energy flows. This energy begins with the sun, which is then transported to, and trapped within, the chloroplasts of plants. The energy is then stored inside glucose molecules through photosynthesis. We release this stored energy to form usable energy for our body in the form of ATP by the process of cellular respiration. Wasted energy is released in the form of heat.
In this unit, we will investigate that the earth is "green" because it recycles important nutrients needed for life. The three recyclable nutrients that we will be learning about are water, nitrogen, and carbon. These nutrients can be found in both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) sources. Do you remember how matter is neither created nor destroyed, just changed? We will explore the different forms or phases of water (a review of 2nd grade and 5th grade science!). We will learn that although nitrogen is the most abundant gas in our atmosphere, it is tricky for living things to get it in a usable form. Can you imagine that a carbon atom that you ate today during lunch could have once been a part of a dinosaur? We will follow the amazing journey of an atom of carbon through living and non-living things.
CYCLES OF NATURE DIAGRAMS/NOTES | |
File Size: | 99 kb |
File Type: | doc |
The Water Cycle Web Activity | |
File Size: | 69 kb |
File Type: | doc |
The Nitrogen Cycle Virtual Farmer Worksheet | |
File Size: | 18 kb |
File Type: | docx |
The Nitrogen Cycle
Carbon Cycle Notes | |
File Size: | 7666 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Click on the 'Review Tool!' button below to review the cycles of nature for the quiz. You will see the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and water cycle tabs in the menu on the left side of the screen. Study the diagrams!
Cycles of Nature Concept Map | |
File Size: | 141 kb |
File Type: | docx |
CYCLES OF NATURE STUDY GUIDE | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Cycles of Nature Textbook PowerPoint Notes | |
File Size: | 1269 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
ecological_succession.ppt | |
File Size: | 9245 kb |
File Type: | ppt |