Oceans and the Carbon Cycle Lab
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by TERC
What it is
- In this two-part lab, students will learn how carbon cycles in the ocean, the role of phytoplankton in the carbon cycle, and how the carbon and nitrogen cycles are connected.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The resources used in this lab are excellent and will help students understand the content.
- Extensions and a teacher's key are available to assist with implementation.
Additional Prerequisites
- You may need to zoom out to see all of the features on the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute's interactive cycles. You can hold Shift and tap the minus key a couple of times to quickly do this on most computers.
- You must sign in to get access to the teacher's key.
Differentiation
- This lab contains a number of short videos and animations to help with student comprehension, which may be especially useful for younger students or those unfamiliar with microbes and nutrient cycles.
- Consider having students watch some of the videos as homework and then review in class together.
- Biology and chemistry classes can utilize this lab for lessons about the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, thermohaline circulation patterns, global biogeochemical cycles, producers, photosynthesis, or net primary production.
- This lab would be a great choice for marine science clubs, environmental science classes, or microbiology classes.
From the scientist review
The resource is comprehensive, especially the NASA video is appropriate, and it is recommended to help students explore the interaction of phytoplanktons in carbon removal and uptake.
How we review resourcesReady to use it?
Hosted on serc.carleton.edu
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
