The Carbon Cycle - FREE Video Worksheet - How Life's Essential Element Moves

From the air you breathe to the food you eat - carbon connects everything! Carbon is the foundation of all organic molecules - the element that makes life possible. But carbon doesn't stay in one place. It constantly cycles between the atmosphere, living organisms, oceans, and Earth itself through processes like photosynthesis, cellular respiration, decomposition, and combustion. Understanding the carbon cycle is essential for understanding ecosystems, energy flow, and climate change!

Standards:

NGSS: 

• HS-LS2-5

TEKS: 

• 8.11.C & BIO.13.C

 

⭐ What's Covered?:

✅ How carbon cycles through Earth's major reservoirs: atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere

✅ Photosynthesis capturing atmospheric CO₂ and storing it in organic molecules

✅ Cellular respiration releasing carbon back to the atmosphere

✅ The role of decomposition in recycling carbon from dead organisms

✅ Long-term carbon storage in fossil fuels and carbonate rocks

✅ How human activities are altering the carbon cycle

✅ Mathematical modeling of carbon flows between reservoirs

 

What will the students be doing?

● Students will be given either a printed or digital handout to record answers on.

● Either individually or as a class watch the video

● Then, they will use the video and their own knowledge to answer the questions.

● Use questions to spark discussions and apply information beyond the page!