The Nitrogen Cycle Game
Provided by: My NASA Data|Published on: February 9, 2026
Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Type: Games
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: My NASA Data
Region: Global
Languages: English
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 →
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 →
Synopsis
- In this slides-based game from My NASA Data, students will act as nitrogen molecules and move through the nitrogen cycle.
- Students will learn how nitrogen moves from one place to another and how human activities impact the nitrogen cycle.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The pre-built Google Form is a great, quick assessment to determine students' understanding.
- Students will love moving through the nitrogen cycle in a game!
Prerequisites
- It may benefit students to be familiar with other cycles in Earth's systems, like the water and carbon cycles.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students may benefit from having a note-taking guide to add to as they watch the nitrogen cycle video and move through the stations in the game.
- Teachers can modify this game to get students up and moving by printing or using multiple devices to display the stations around the room. Students can physically move through the stations, discussing with other students how they got there.
- To help students understand the connection to climate change, they can get to know nitrous oxide as a greenhouse gas through this video.
- For a more immersive experience, teachers can provide students with the slide show link already in slide show mode, so they need only to click the linked pictures and words to move from station to station.
This resource introduces students to the basics of the nitrogen cycle through a short video and an instructional game. The slideshow features clear definitions of key terms, and sources are provided. The only small criticism is that the video only briefly mentions the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). That said, this resource is strong and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
My NASA Data
NASA offers petabytes of global Earth science data collected from satellites, but accessing these data in a traditional (or virtual) science classroom can be tricky. Since 2004, My NASA Data has supported students and teachers of grades 3-12 in analyzing and interpreting NASA mission data.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
