Carbon Travels!
Portions of this activity are based LOOSELY on data from the Exploring the Environment website
http://davem2.cotf.edu/ete/modules/carbon/effig11_full.html
They have a brief overview of the carbon cycle at http://davem2.cotf.edu/ete/modules/carbon/efcarbon.html
Preparation:
 Set-Up for Stations
Print out signs for 4 spheres
(Earth from Above Books) one for each station
Motor Oil from Tina’s Room

o Atmosphere
 Sign
 Dice
 Molecules – Nitrogen, Water, O2, CO2, H2O
o Hydrosphere
 Sign
 Dice
 California Book – Picture of Sea Shells
 Whale Watch Laminated Card
 Fossils
 Shells
 Limestone
o Terrestrial Biosphere
 Sign
 Dice
 Plants
 Animals (alive or stuffed)
o Geosphere
 Sign
 Dice
 Volcano Models
 Postcards of Chilean Volcanoes
 Poster of Mt. St. Helens Eruption
 Limestone
 Coal
 Motor Oil
 Rocks
Make double-sided copies of the station sheets so one side is pre-1700 and the other is post-1700
Materials:
 Station sheets
 Data sheets
 Materials on the carbon cycle
 8 dice
Initial Discussion:
1. Review what carbon is (an element, the stuff of life).
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
2. Ask students to touch something that’s made out of carbon – then something that isn’t. Discuss. Usually the
things that aren’t carbon are metal, glass or water. Plastic, wood, cloth, people, etc. are all made of carbon.
3. Introduce the concept of a carbon cycle. Carbon is never destroyed or created, it moves between different
forms – carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, in life forms (trees, marine life, animals, etc.), dissolved carbon
dioxide in the ocean, compressed into fossil fuels, etc. (You could ask students to come up with what forms
carbon takes.)
4. Review the processes that move carbon around in the carbon cycle
1. Physical processes
 Water currents
 Settling to the ocean floor or to the ground
2. Chemical and biological processes
 Respiration
 Photosynthesis
 Combustion
 Dissolving gaseous carbon dioxide into water, where it takes the form of carbonic acid.
 Coming out of solution of carbonic acid to become carbon dioxide in the air (same process
that occurs when you open a soda).
 Death and decay
5. Review that carbon atoms have no choice in existence (not life – they’re not alive!), so we’re going to use dice
to replicate the element of chance.
Game Instructions
1. Put out the station sheets, with the Pre-1700 version on top, and the dice.
2. Magically turn your students into individual carbon atoms and give them the data sheets.
3. Ask students to start at a station, or assign them to stations. Be sure to have a few people in Fossil Fuel
Deposits, and avoid having anyone in Ocean Sediments to start with. Ask students to write down where they’re
starting in the first space on the data sheet.
4. Will take 10 turns
5. Each turn, roll a die, then follow the instructions at the station for where to go next.
6. Write down what stations you go to and what processes take you there.
7. Be sure to leave the dice at the stations!
8. After 10 turns, stop and raise your hand/step to the side so we can tell. It’s not a race, but don’t dawdle.
9. After all the students have completed 10 turns, ask them to turn over the datasheets. It is now after 1700, and
some things have changed. Take 10 more turns, then narrate your story in words.
Discussion After the Game
 What was it like being a carbon atom?
 Ask a few students to tell their story
 What was different before and after 1700? What does that reflect? Most of the other processes are the same,
but Fossil Fuel Deposits is quite different. It reflects the Industrial Revolution and human combustion of fossil
fuels.
 Review a visual of the carbon cycle
 Review climate change
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
QUICK REVIEW
1) What are the four regions of Earth where carbon is found?
2) How many electrons is a carbon atom searching for?
3) List 4 objects that contain carbon atoms.
DIRECTIONS
Through the powers vested in Mrs. C. and Ms. S. at teacher school. You have been transformed into a carbon atom. Like
all carbon atoms you will be moving and getting stuck among the four different carbon regions of the Earth.
Regions found in Mrs. Scott’s Room
Region of ATMOSPHERE
Region of HYDROSPHERE which includes
Surface Ocean
Intermediate/Deep Ocean
Marine Life
1) Read the instructions
2) Roll the die
Regions found in Ms. Schofield’s Room
Region of TERRESTRIAL BIOSPHERE
Region of GEOSPHERE which includes
Ocean Sediment
Fossil Fuels
Soil/Detritus
3) Move or be stuck
4) Record what happens to you at each tern.
Carbon Atom Trip Itinerary Pre-1700
Where were you sent? Specific
Location and what atoms you are
bonded with
Each
Turn
What process made you move to another carbon
region? Or record if you remained stuck in a carbon
Region I
started In
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Turn your sheet over when instructed.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
region.
Carbon Atom Trip Itinerary Post-1700
Where were you sent? Describe
Location and what atoms you are
bonded with
Each
Turn
Example Surface Ocean
Intermediate/Deep Ocean
Region I
started In
1
What process made you move to another carbon
region? Or record if you remained stuck in a carbon
region.
Carried along by water currents.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FOR HOMEWORK due Wednesday, September 23, 2009
This assignment will be your first lab grade.
1) On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions in complete sentences. If possible, please type your
answers.
a. What carbon regions did your carbon atom visit?
b. Did you ever get “stuck” in any regions? If yes, describe what region you were stuck in and for how
many turns. If no, find a peer who got stuck. Describe what region your peer’s carbon atom was
stuck in and for how many turns.
c. What processes did your carbon atom undergo during its trip? What happened to your carbon atom
that moved it from carbon region to another carbon region? I.e. Photosynthesis moved my carbon atom
from the atmosphere into terrestrial biosphere, when a plant took me up and made me into sugar. I dissolved from the
atmosphere into the surface ocean.
d. What were the differences between your carbon atom’s pre-1700 trip and post-1700 trip?
2) Create a diagram that shows and explains how a carbon atom can move from carbon region to carbon
region. See rubric for details
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Atmosphere Pre-1700
You are paired with two oxygen – you are in carbon dioxide, or
CO2!
Roll the die:
1: Stuck….stay in the Atmosphere 1 turn, then roll again.
2 or 3: Become part of Terrestrial Biosphere. A plant has
taken you up as part of photosynthesis and synthesized you
into sugar or a longer carbon chain.
4, 5 or 6: Go into the Surface Ocean. You have dissolved in
the ocean waters.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Atmosphere Post-1700
You are paired with two oxygen – you are in carbon dioxide, or
CO2!
Roll the die:
1: Stuck…stay in the Atmosphere 1 turn, then roll again.
2 or 3: Become part of Terrestrial Biosphere. A plant has
taken you up as part of photosynthesis and synthesized you
into sugar or a longer carbon chain.
4, 5 or 6: Go into the Surface Ocean. You have dissolved in
the ocean waters.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Terrestrial Biosphere Pre-1700
You are part of a carbon chain – cellulose in a tree trunk, sugar
in fruit, or muscle in an animal.
Roll the die:
1 or 2: Go to the Atmosphere. You’ve been converted by
respiration into CO2
3, 4, 5, or 6: Go into the Soil. The organism you were a part
of died, and now the carbon that made it up has fallen to
the ground and is decaying. Carbon never dies!
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Terrestrial Biosphere Post-1700
You are part of a carbon chain – cellulose in a tree trunk, sugar
in fruit, or muscle in an animal.
Roll the die:
1 or 2: Go to the Atmosphere. You’ve been converted by
respiration into CO2.
3: You’re wood or other material that has been burned
(combustion) by humans as part of changing land use. Go to
the Atmosphere.
4, 5, or 6: Go into the Soil. The organism you were a part of
died, and now the carbon that made it up has fallen to the
ground and is decaying. Carbon never dies! 50%
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Geosphere
Specifically…Soil/Detritus Pre-1700
You are part of a carbon chain, such as cellulose in a fallen leaf.
Roll the die:
1*, 2, 3, 4**: Stuck…stay in the Soil 1 turn, then roll again.
*If you roll 1 twice in a row, you are carried down to the
Surface Ocean by a stream.
**If you roll 4 five times in a row, you become a fossil fuel
5, 6: Go into the Atmosphere. The chain you are a part of
decayed and became carbon dioxide.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Geosphere
Specifically…Soil/Detritus Post-1700
You are part of a carbon chain, such as cellulose in a fallen leaf.
Roll the die:
1: Human disturbance of the land causes you to be carried
down to the Surface Ocean in runoff.
2, 3, 4**: Stuck…stay in the Soil 1 turn, and then roll again.
**If you roll 4 five times in a row, you become a Fossil Fuel
5, 6: Go into the Atmosphere. The chain you are a part of
decayed and became carbon dioxide.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Hydrosphere
Specifically…Surface Ocean Pre-1700
You are carbon dioxide dissolved in the surface waters of the
ocean.
Roll the die:
1: Stuck…stay where you are in the Surface Ocean one
turn, then roll again.
2 or 3: Go to the Atmosphere. You are coming out of
solution to be carbon dioxide gas.
4 or 5: Go into the Intermediate/Deep Ocean. You are
carried along by water currents.
6: Become part of Marine Life. Algae has taken you up out
of the water through photosynthesis, and synthesizes you
into a carbon chain.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Hydrosphere
Specifically…Surface Ocean Post-1700
You are carbon dioxide dissolved in the surface waters of the
ocean.
Roll the die:
1: Stuck…stay where you are in the Surface Ocean 1 turn,
then roll again.
2 or 3: Go to the Atmosphere. You are coming out of
solution to be carbon dioxide gas.
4 or 5: Go into the Intermediate/Deep Ocean. You are
carried along by water currents.
6: Become part of Marine Life. Algae has taken you up out
of the water through photosynthesis, and synthesizes you
into a carbon chain.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Hydrosphere
Specifically…Intermediate/Deep Ocean
Pre-1700
You are carbon dioxide dissolved in the deeper waters of the
ocean.
Roll the die:
1*, 2, 3, or 4: Stuck…stay where you are 1 turn, then roll
again.
*If you roll 1 twice in a row, you become part of Ocean
Sediment. You’ve settled to the bottom of the ocean!
5 or 6: Go into the Surface Ocean. You are carried along by
water currents.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Hydrosphere
Specifically…Intermediate/Deep Ocean
Post-1700
You are carbon dioxide dissolved in the deeper waters of the
ocean.
Roll the die:
1*, 2, 3, or 4: Stuck…stay where you are 1 turn, then roll
again.
*If you roll 1 twice in a row, you become part of Ocean
Sediment. You’ve settled to the bottom of the ocean!
5 or 6: Go into the Surface Ocean. You are carried along by
water currents.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Hydrosphere
Specifically…Marine Life Pre-1700
You are part of a carbon chain in an algae, or a marine mammal!
Roll the die:
1, 2, 3, 4, or 5: Go to Surface Ocean. You’ve been exhaled
by marine life, converted to carbon dioxide gas in
respiration.
6: Go to the Intermediate/Deep Ocean. The organism you
were a part of died, and the carbon that made it up is now
drifting downwards in the ocean. Carbon never dies!
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Hydrosphere
Specifically…Marine Life Post-1700
You are part of a carbon chain in an algae or a marine mammal,
maybe a dolphin or blue whale!
Roll the die:
1, 2, 3, 4, or 5: Go to Surface Ocean. You’ve been exhaled
by marine life, converted to carbon dioxide gas in
respiration.
6: Go to the Intermediate/Deep Ocean. The organism you
were a part of died, and the carbon that made it up is now
drifting downwards in the ocean. Carbon never dies!
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Geosphere
Specifically…Ocean Sediment Pre-1700
You can roll the die, but you’re not going anywhere anytime soon!
You are Sediment, and will become sedimentary rock.
REALLY STUCK…
If you roll a 1 five times in a row, after 10 million years you
become fossil fuel.
If you roll a 6 five times in a row, after 10 million years you are
released into the atmosphere by a volcano as carbon dioxide
gas.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Geosphere
Specifically…Ocean Sediment Post-1700
You can roll the die, but you’re not going anywhere anytime soon!
You are Sediment, and will become sedimentary rock.
REALLY STUCK…
Roll a 1 five times in a row, after 10 million years you become
fossil fuel.
Roll a 6 five times in a row, after 10 million years you are
released into the atmosphere by a volcano as carbon dioxide
gas.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Geosphere
Specifically…Fossil Fuel Deposits Pre-1700
You are part of a carbon chain in oil or natural gas.
REALLY STUCK…
You can roll the die, but you’re not going anywhere! You are
ancient plants compressed and transformed into fossil fuel, and
you are under many layers of rock – for now…
Stay in the Fossil Fuel for 10 turns.
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09
Location: Geosphere
Specifically…Fossil Fuel Deposits Post-1700
You are part of a carbon chain in oil or natural gas.
NOT AS STUCK…
Roll the die:
1, 2, 3, or 4: Stuck…stay where you are in Fossil Fuel
Deposits for 1 turn. You have not been extracted from
underneath the rocks. Roll again.
5 or 6: Go to the Atmosphere. You’ve been burned in a car
or power plant and converted into carbon dioxide gas!
Carbon Travels!
STEM Earth Central 2006 – modified version of activity produced by New England Aquarium, edited 10.10.09