Name:______________________________________________________ Date:___________ Hr.

__________

The Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle Tour

LEARNING GOALS:
The learner will understand that matter and energy cycle through living and non-living things that make
up the Earth system.
The learner will understand the law of conservation of energy and matter. Energy and matter are not
created or destroyed, they are just transferred from one system to another.

You and your partner are about to go on a journey. Picture yourself as a carbon or nitrogen atom in a part of a
biogeochemical cycle. We learned that atoms cycle through living and non-living things when they are a part of
a biogeochemical cycle. Whether you are a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, you are a building block of living
things and are essential for life to exist. No matter if your journey is long or short, you are driven by energy to
complete the cycle and keep our Earth in balance.

Directions:
1. You and your partner will be assigned an atom and a starting point on a cycle.
2. You are to find your starting point and begin your journey.
3. At each stop on the cycle there is a QR code you scan that will take you to questions to answer. You can
use your notes on biogeochemical cycles to help. Once you have answered correctly, you will be given a
set of instructions to follow and your next destination on that cycle.
4. When you have completed the cycle, or got back to your starting point, come see me to get a different
atom to start the other cycle.
5. Once you have completed both of the cycles, head back to the room to answer the follow up questions
on this worksheet.


CARBON CYCLE NITROGEN CYCLE

Stops are down the hallway near Stops are in this hallway surrounding
the media center and gym. There are 6 total. the courtyard. There are 5 total.













Starting/Ending Point: Starting/Ending Point:




Follow-Up Questions: Answer in complete sentences

1. Reflect on the learning goals for this activity.

o How did this activity demonstrate the fact that matter and energy cycle through living and non-
living things that make up the Earth system?





o How did this activity demonstrate the law of conservation of energy and matter?







2. Was everyones journey through the cycles the same? Why or why not?






3. Does the cycling ever stop? Explain.






4. Atoms do not spend the same amount of time in the reservoirs (remember how you had to count to
different numbers to represent different amounts of time spent). Why do you think that is so?







5. What drives the cycling of the atoms through the systems?