Key Skills: Changing materials

(3q) Pupils learn how the carbon cycle helps to maintain atmospheric composition

Key Question: Combustion produces enormous amounts of carbon dioxide every year. How does the carbon cycle help keep the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at almost the same level?

The carbon cycle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/gcsebitesize/science_biology/ecology/the_carbon_cycle_rev.shtml

An explanation of how carbon atoms are recycled in the environment.

Carbon cycle http://library.thinkquest.org/11226/

A trip around the carbon cycle with Captain Carbon. Included on the tour are explorations of the processes of photosynthesis, digestion and combustion.

Earth on Fire - Carbon Cycle http://davem2.cotf.edu/ete/modules/carbon/efcarbon.html

A more complex examination of where all the carbon is going. Sinks like the oceans may be absorbing more carbon dioxide than we think.

Carbon cycle - Ecology http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=00AF9000

A concise description of the flow of carbon through the earth's ecosystem.

BrainPOP - Photosynthesis http://www.brainpop.com/science/plantsandanimals/photosynthesis/

A movie and a quiz to help students understand the process of photosynthesis, an important part of the carbon cycle.

Alien Explorer - Photosynthesis http://www.alienexplorer.com/ecology/topic3.html

Photosynthesis is explained in stages starting with how plants capture the sun's energy.