Option 1: As a formative assessment, read the following statements and have the students put their thumbs up if they think a statement is true and thumbs down if they think it is false. If they are not sure, they can hold their thumb out to the side.
- Carbon cycles through the environment. (True)
- Carbon can be found only in the atmosphere. (False)
- Carbon does not stay in any one place for a long time. (False)
- Photosynthesis is one of the processes that drives the carbon cycle. (True)
- The carbon stored in trees comes mainly from the atmosphere. (True)
- Carbon can be dissolved in ocean water. (True)
Option 2: – After finishing the activity, have students complete this 8-question quiz to check their understanding. The quiz asks questions about carbon, the carbon cycle, and calculating the amount of carbon in a tree.
To grant students access, simply provide them with this abbreviated, case-sensitive link: http://bit.ly/TheCarbonCycle. For troubleshooting tips, visit the Carbon & Climate Introduction or Technical Support page.
Option 3: Use the Carbon Cycle Evaluation Rubric teacher page to assess student diagrams from Steps 9-11 of Doing the Activity.
Option 4: If your students are English language learners, have students retell the story of their carbon cycle journey, describing the sequence of events and the main ideas they drew from it. You may use the Carbon Cycle Evaluation Rubric teacher page to assess their retelling.
