Travels of a Carbon Atom
Synthesis of First Semester Learning
To bring together your learning from the entire semester, you are responsible for narrating the travels of a
carbon atom as it joins together with other atoms to form different molecules. You may do so through
an illustrated children’s book, essay, or poster with captions and plenty of details. The following chapter
outlines will help guide you through the “big picture,” but you are responsible for many extra details.
Incorporate as much of your relevant learning as possible, and be sure to add details regarding chemical
processes and how you get from place-to-place. Take special note of how you will cross over membranes,
how many membranes you will cross, enzymes and hormones that are involved, your surroundings, etc.
What happens to you chemically? What happens to you physically? How do you get from place to place?
What other processes do you witness along the way? Think about when you will be inside a cell, and when
you will be outside a cell. (For example, when in the GI tract, will you be inside a cell? Will you be in a cell
when you are transformed into carbon dioxide?) Accuracy and creativity count!
Each chapter will be a 20-point written assignment.
Chapter 1: Ingestion and Digestion of a Starch Molecule
 Begin the chapter as a carbon atom that is part of a starch molecule
 End the chapter as a carbon atom that is part of a glucose molecule in capillary just outside of small
intestine (dissolved in blood plasma)
Chapter 2: Circulatory System
 Begin the chapter (as part of glucose) in capillary just outside of small intestine
 End the chapter (still as part of glucose) in aorta (dissolved in blood plasma)
Chapter 3: Excretory system OR long-term energy storage
Option A: Excretory system
 Begin the chapter (still as part of glucose) in aorta
 End the chapter (still as part of glucose) in renal vein
Option B: Long-term energy storage
 Begin the chapter (still as part of glucose) in aorta
 Become part of a glycogen molecule in the liver
 End the chapter (again as part of glucose) in bloodstream outside the liver
Chapter 4: Aerobic Cellular Respiration
 Begin wherever you left off in Chapter 3
 End the chapter as part of a carbon dioxide molecule inside the cell body of a neuron
Chapter 5: Respiratory System
 Begin the chapter as part of a carbon dioxide molecule inside the cell body of a neuron
 End the chapter as part of a carbon dioxide molecule in the ecosystem
Chapter 6: Photosynthesis and Back into the Food Chain
 Begin the chapter as part of a carbon dioxide molecule in the ecosystem
 Become part of glucose
 Become part of a starch molecule, inside a plant cell
 End the chapter back in the digestive system of a primary consumer (a human?)
Grading for Each Chapter of Narrative:
Description
Student began and ended in appropriate place.
Points
Possible
7
Student demonstrated good understanding of
concepts and “big picture” in terms of general route
that carbon atom takes.
Student added details plentifully and accurately.
8
Student added many details, which might include
(depending upon the chapter): membrane crossings,
transport mechanisms, chemical reactions, enzymes
and/or hormones involved, names of blood vessels,
names of organs, speed of journey, observations
along the way of other processes in the body, etc.
Student maintained perspective of carbon atom
throughout narrative.
Student added creative details.
Student carefully proofread work.
Total possible points for each chapter = 20 points
1
2
2
Points
Earned
Comments
Grading for Each Chapter of Narrative:
Description
Student began and ended in appropriate place.
Points
Possible
7
Student demonstrated good understanding of
concepts and “big picture” in terms of general route
that carbon atom takes.
Student added details plentifully and accurately.
8
Student added many details, which might include
(depending upon the chapter): membrane crossings,
transport mechanisms, chemical reactions, enzymes
and/or hormones involved, names of blood vessels,
names of organs, speed of journey, observations
along the way of other processes in the body, etc.
Student maintained perspective of carbon atom
throughout narrative.
Student added creative details.
Student carefully proofread work.
Points
Earned
Comments
Points
Earned
Comments
1
2
2
Total possible points for each chapter = 20 points
Grading for Each Chapter of Narrative:
Description
Student began and ended in appropriate place.
Points
Possible
7
Student demonstrated good understanding of
concepts and “big picture” in terms of general route
that carbon atom takes.
Student added details plentifully and accurately.
8
Student added many details, which might include
(depending upon the chapter): membrane crossings,
transport mechanisms, chemical reactions, enzymes
and/or hormones involved, names of blood vessels,
names of organs, speed of journey, observations
along the way of other processes in the body, etc.
Student maintained perspective of carbon atom
throughout narrative.
Student added creative details.
Student carefully proofread work.
Total possible points for each chapter = 20 points
1
2
2
Teacher notes:
Chapter 4 – it says aerobic; where would you find a neuron? Don’t neglect membrane crossings
Chapter 5 – it’s all about the respiratory system! Describe these structures!
Chapter 6 – How do cells build up larger macromolecules? Name of the reaction?
Summary at end with book title/cover page and summary on the back page of the book – including # of times
passing through the heart, different kinds of transport you experienced, types of cells you saw/were in,
organelles you were inside of, etc…