NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS2.A – Earth’s Materials and Systems. The planet’s systems interact over scales that range from microscopic to global in size, and they operate over fractions of a second to billions of years. These interactions have shaped Earth’s history and will determine its future.
To introduce the topic of the carbon cycle, ask students to brainstorm what they already know about carbon.
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS2.A – Earth’s Materials and Systems. All Earth processes are the result of energy flowing and matter cycling within and among the planet’s systems. This energy is derived from the sun and Earth’s hot interior. The energy that flows and matter that cycles produce chemical and physical changes in Earth’s materials and living organisms.
What can past climate changes tell us about the possible effects of current global temperature trends?
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS2.A – Earth’s Materials and Systems. The planet’s systems interact over scales that range from microscopic to global in size, and they operate over fractions of a second to billions of years. These interactions have shaped Earth’s history and will determine its future.
Explain to students that they will model a carbon atom moving through the carbon cycle
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts. 4 – Systems and System Models. MS. Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy, matter, and information flows within systems.
have students share what they have learned in their expert roles with the others in their group
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. 6 – Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions. MS. Construct a scientific explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources (including the students’ own experiments) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
draw a carbon cycle diagram on a large sheet of paper that represents the places each member in their group visited
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. 2 – Developing and Using Models. MS. Develop and/or use a model to describe and/or predict phenomena.
Scientists, industry, citizens, and government officials do not always agree on what should be done regarding levels of greenhouse gases and global climate change.
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS3.D – Global Climate Change. Human factors, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are a major factor in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and actions.
use the information for those dates to complete the chart and answer the questions
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. 6 – Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions. MS. Construct a scientific explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources (including the students’ own experiments) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
What factors most affected our carbon footprints?
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS3.D – Global Climate Change. Human factors, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are a major factor in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and actions.
Although the age at which maximum carbon sequestration occurs varies with tree species, the general shape of this relationship is similar for all species.
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts. 1 – Patterns. MS. Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural systems.