Carbon Affects Nearly Everything on Earth – Including Our Future

Provided by: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History |Published on: September 1, 2023

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Synopsis

This illustrated video describes the carbon cycle, demonstrating how climate change affects everything and everyone due to carbon's ubiquity on Earth.
The video features excellent visuals showing carbon atoms pumping through the atmosphere into living organisms and the ocean in a cycle of carbon sources and sinks.
Next, the video highlights the imbalance in the carbon cycle caused by humans burning fossil fuels and by farming and deforestation.

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Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This video uses observed data on a graph to show evidence of a changing climate due to excess greenhouse gases from human activities.
By showing carbon in different locations at the molecular level (represented by a C in a bubble), students gain an introduction to a bit of the chemistry of climate change.
This is a great introductory video about the carbon cycle for many age groups.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should know that the element carbon is represented by the letter C.
Students should be familiar with different types of fossil fuels and their use.

Differentiation

Younger learners may benefit from stopping the video periodically to check for understanding, as well as slowing the video playback speed to allow adequate time to read the text and view the animations.
Before watching the video, ask students if they know of different places that carbon is stored on Earth.
A graphic organizer may be helpful for students to take notes on different processes in the carbon cycle, such as photosynthesis, decomposition, erosion, ocean acidification, and volcanism.
Consider having students investigate alternative energy sources and discuss if they impact the carbon cycle.

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Scientist Reviewed

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Carbon Affects Nearly Everything on Earth – Including Our Future

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources