The Nitrogen Cycle - FREE Video Worksheet - High School Biology & Environmental

Nitrogen makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere, but most organisms can't use it! Despite being surrounded by nitrogen gas, plants and animals need nitrogen in specific chemical forms to build proteins and DNA. The nitrogen cycle describes how nitrogen transforms between atmospheric gas, usable nutrients, and organic molecules - powered by specialized bacteria at nearly every step!

[Preview this free video here on YouTube]

Standards:

Perfect for high school students studying ecology, biogeochemical cycles, and environmental science. This video aligns with NGSS standard HS-LS2-4, using mathematical representations to support explanations of nitrogen cycling in ecosystems.

TEKS Addressed: 
🎯 High School Science: BIO.13.C - The student is expected to explain the significance of the carbon and nitrogen cycle to ecosystem stability and analyze the consequences of disrupting these cycles

⭐ What's Covered?:

✅ Why atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) is unusable for most organisms 
✅ Nitrogen fixation: Converting N₂ to ammonia by bacteria and lightning 
✅ Nitrification: Bacteria converting ammonia to nitrites and nitrates 
✅ Assimilation: Plants absorbing nitrates to build proteins and nucleic acids 
✅ Ammonification: Decomposers recycling nitrogen from dead organisms 
✅ Denitrification: Bacteria returning nitrogen gas to the atmosphere 
✅ Human impacts: Fertilizers and pollution altering the nitrogen cycle

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!