Description:
Use large posters of the nitrogen cycle to follow the flow of
nitrogen and the organisms affected by it. Relate the nitrogen
requirement of plants to the use of fertilizers and alternative
means of adding nitrogen to the soil.
Goals:
Explain carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Explain how a species adapts to its niche.
Notice:
Information for obtaining videos for this lesson are listed under
Related Links/Resources in the Unit Plans.doc, day 16 lesson over
view.
Objectives: Day 16
•Describe
the importance of
nitrogen for plants and animals.
•List
possible means of adding
nitrogen to the soil for crops.
Warm-Up
Hypoxia = the depletion of oxygen from water.
Often as a result of pollution.
Using the above term and the video that will follow,
you’re warm up is to answer these questions:
1.
What are 2 causes of nitrogen increases in the
Chesapeake bay.
2.
What are 2 negative results of extra nitrogen in
the bay (specific examples)

Video 1 Chesapeake Bay: A Hypoxic
Estuary
Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay
Warm-Up
Hypoxia = the deletion of oxygen from water.
1.
What are 2 causes of nitrogen increases in the
Chesapeake bay.
2.
What are 2 negative results of extra nitrogen in
the bay (specific examples)
Answers:
1. Vehicle emissions (nitric oxides), factory
emissions, fertilizers, residential runoff,
industrial runoff, etc…
2. Hypoxia, death of organisms, organisms leaving
area, “dead zones”, etc…
Nitrogen Cycle
Take a moment to look over the nitrogen cycle.
What 3 different kingdoms do you see that play
a roll in this cycle?
Nitrogen Cycle
Do animals, plants and bacteria all move
nitrogen the same way? (look at the arrows)
How / what do they use nitrogen for?
What is Nitrogen?
What is nitrogen?

◦

An element
What is it used for?
◦
Answer these 3 questions as best you can:
1. Is nitrogen a Metal or Non-metal?
2. What are 3 common uses for nitrogen?
3. Why do living things need nitrogen?

Now watch the following clip, the complete
any of these that you could not answer.

Video 2: Nitrogen as an Element
What is Nitrogen?
Check your answers.
 What is nitrogen?
◦

An element
What is it used for?
◦
Answer these 3 questions as best you can:
1. Is nitrogen a Metal or Non-metal?
Non-metal
2. What are 3 common uses for nitrogen?
Ammonia, Fertilizer, explosives, welding, storage,
cryogenics
3. Why do living things need nitrogen?
PROTEINS
How do Human’s effect the Nitrogen Cycle
THINK
• List how humans use nitrogen (use the list
from the video)
PAIR
• With the person next to you, put them in order
from what you predict would have the
LARGEST to SMALLEST effect.
• How/where do humans use nitrogen (i.e.
lawns)
SHARE
• Your top three with the class.
How do Human’s effect the Nitrogen Cycle
THINK
• How do humans try to decrease their impact
on the nitrogen cycle?
PAIR
• Compare thoughts
SHARE
• Share you ideas
• Here is an example of how human try to
decrease impacts from one of the major
nitrogen pollution sources.

Video 3: Catalytic Converter Video
Nitrogen Cycle: Man vs. Nature
Using the T-chart
 You are to separate ways that man and
nature effect the movement of nitrogen in
the environment (both good and bad).

Include ways that nitrogen is moved, added,
changed, and any other impact on nitrogen.
Nitrogen Cycle: Man vs. Nature

Video 4: Nitrogen Cycle
Think about it…
1.
What states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) do you find
nitrogen in throughout the cycle?
2.
How could humans have an impact on this cycle?
3.
What organisms use nitrogen?
4.
What is an example of a symbiotic relationship
based around the nitrogen cycle?
Objectives: Day 16
•Describe
the importance of
nitrogen for plants and animals.
•List
possible means of adding
nitrogen to the soil for crops.