Ecology Flip Book – NUTRIENT CYCLE DIRECTIONS
Water Cycle Directions
Water Cycle
1. You will be completing 3 Web Quests for this section and then adding one page to your flip
book.
2. Obtain a Water Cycle Worksheet, find a computer station and visit the following site:
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html
3. Show the completed worksheet to your teacher (for grading) before moving to the next step.
Carbon Cycle
4. You will first be completing an online activity to better understand the Carbon cycle. You must
complete the Carbon Cycle Web Quest and its questions before beginning your page.
5. Obtain the worksheet Carbon Cycle web quest and visit the following website:
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html
6. Show the completed worksheet to your teacher (for grading) before moving to the next step.
Nitrogen Cycle
7. You will first be completing an online activity to better understand the Nitrogen cycle. You
must complete the Nitrogen Cycle Web quest and its questions before beginning your page.
8. Obtain the worksheet Nitrogen Cycle web quest and visit the following
9. Complete the web quest by answering the questions to gain a better understanding of the role
of the Nitrogen Cycle on earth.
10. Show the completed worksheet to your teacher before moving to the next step.
11. Using the information you gathered from the website, you will be creating a diagram of the
Carbon OR Nitrogen cycle. Your diagram must contain the following:
a. An original picture (not printed from the internet) of an environment you have seen the
cycle take place in (farm, garden, highway, etc.)
b. A description of what happens during in the cycle
c. Must have 4-6 steps
d. Illustrations of what takes place at each step
e. You may draw, cut out magazine clippings or use clipart.
12. Show your completed page to your teacher (for grading) before moving to the next page.
Carbon Cycle Web quest
Background: In biogeochemical cycles (including carbon, water and nitrogen cycles), elements
are transported between the atmosphere, biosphere (living things), hydrosphere (water), and
geosphere (rocks, minerals, and soils). These cycles help us remember that Earth is a complex
system.
Visit the website: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html
Review the carbon cycle diagram.
1. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
2. How are fossil fuels created?
3. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
4. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
5. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
6. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
Click “Play the Carbon Cycle Game” or
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the carbon cycle
game.
You are a carbon atom!
7. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
“Click to begin your journey”
8. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO )?
2
9. By how much has CO increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
2
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make
sure you visit all reservoirs!
10. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
11. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
The deep ocean accounts for more than _____ % of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
12. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
13. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
14. Next stop = _________________________________________
What did you learn?
Nitrogen Cycle Web Quest
Go to: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and
answer these questions.
1. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
2. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the
nitrogen (N ) found in the air. Why not?
2
3. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
4. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
5. Atmospheric nitrogen (N ) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
2
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to
use them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe
the process of breaking up N .
2
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants
associated with the symbiotic relationship.)
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these questions.
10. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Water Cycle Worksheet
1. Use the diagram below, label to identify the different parts of the water cycle. Be sure
write a description for each part.
Water Cycle Worksheet
1. Use the diagram below, label to identify the different parts of the water cycle. Be sure
write a description for each part.