LESSON PLANS—HONORS
Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle
OBJECTIVE: ACOS
14 Trace biogeochemical cycles through the environment,
including water, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen.
ACT QUALITY CORE: Discuss role of beneficial bacteria (recycling of nutrients
e.g.)
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What is the importance of the biogeochemical
cycles?
LEARNING TARGET: I can identify the main concepts in the nitrogen cycle
as nitrogen is converted into useable form for plants and
animals.
BEFORE
A. Warm-up (STRATEGY: PREVIEW CHART)
1. Write the bold printed words in the nitrogen cycle section and
identify the main idea of the terms.
2. Looking at the diagram on page 78, what organisms are
responsible for the nitrogen cycle?
3. Looking at the diagram on page 78, what are the main nitrogencontaining nutrients in the biosphere?
LEARNING TARGET: I can trace the path of nitrogen molecules through the
nitrogen cycle and describe the processes that occur.
DURING (Strategy: Flow Chart)
D. Draw a schematic showing the processes of the nitrogen cycle.
1. Define each process.
2. Color arrows that show nitrogen being incorporated into the earth
blue and the arrows that show nitrogen being released into the
atmosphere red.
E. Analysis of the nitrogen cycle
1.
Write the chemical formulas for atmospheric nitrogen, ammonia,
nitrate, and nitrite. (N2, NH3, NO3, NO2)
2. Which element is symbolized by each letter in these formulas?
(N—nitrogen; O—oxygen)
3. What do the small numbers mean? (number of atoms of the
Elements)
4.What atoms make up 1 molecule of atmospheric nitrogen? (2 atoms
of nitrogen)
5. One molecule of ammonia? (1 nitrogen and 3 hydrogen)
6. The nitrate? (1 nitrogen and 3 oxygen)
7. Nitrogen Lab
LEARNING TARGET: I can explain the nitrogen cycle processes as to the
importance to organisms.
AFTER (Strategy: Analyzing/Summarizing Data)
E. Analyze the data from the reading on page 79.
F. Graph the data and answer the questions.
EQ: Biogeochemical cycles are responsible for the flow of matter through the
ecosystem. Carbon is recycled through the processes of photosynthesis and
cellular respiration. Plants use carbon dioxide to release oxygen. Oxygen is used
by plants and animals to burn sugar and release carbon back into the atmosphere.
The nitrogen cycle is driven by the actions of bacteria as they convert nitrogen gas
from the atmosphere into nitrates which are used by plants which are then eaten
by animals. Biogeochemical cycles are important to replenish organic molecules
necessary for living things.
HOMEWORK
Complete Nitrogen Lab Analysis Questions
Nitrogen Home Activity
Complete Ecology Questions
Study for Chapter 3 Test