Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks
https://scied.ucar.edu/activity/carbon-dioxide-sources-and-sinks-activity
https://scied.ucar.edu/activity/carbon-dioxide-sources-and-sinks-activity
Windows to the Universe/UCAR SciEd
Activity takes about three 40-min lesson periods and some preparation. Additional materials required.
Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»
See how this Activity supports the Next Generation Science Standards»
Grade Level
Topics
Climate Literacy
This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Energy Literacy
This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:B) Changes in matter
Other materials addressing:
B) Changes in matter.
Other materials addressing:
B) Changes in matter.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:C) Energy
Other materials addressing:
C) Energy.
Other materials addressing:
C) Energy.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.2 The Living Environment:D) Flow of matter and energy
Other materials addressing:
D) Flow of matter and energy.
Other materials addressing:
D) Flow of matter and energy.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:A) Human/environment interactions
Other materials addressing:
A) Human/environment interactions.
Other materials addressing:
A) Human/environment interactions.
Notes From Our Reviewers
The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness.
Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about
how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- The educator should be well informed about the carbon cycle, sources and sinks. See, for example, this site from Vision Learning: http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=95&l=
- Activity is very focused on the mechanics of the experiments and doesn't require the student to understand the bigger picture and the reason for doing this experiment. Educator should include a teaching unit on the carbon cycle to tie this experiment into the bigger picture.
- Teacher prep time is extensive. The activities require equipment and supplies commonly found in a chemistry lab, except for the indicator Bromothymol blue and a sprig of Elodea (available in pet stores as an aquarium plant).
- There are six test tubes involved:
A: control - 1/3 full of BTB;
B: test for Part 1 - 1/3 full of BTB;
C: test for Part 2 - 1/3 full of BTB;
D: test for Parts 3 and 4 - 1/3 full of BTB, wrapped in foil, sprig of Elodea;
E: test for Part 5 - 1/3 full of BTB;
unmarked: vinegar and baking soda.
About the Content
- Lab demonstration of the main carbon dioxide sinks and sources using simple materials.
- Large conceptual gap between the actual experiments and their interpretation.
- While the science here is basic and well established, without a full understanding of the workings of bromothymol blue (BTB), the vinegar-baking soda reaction, plant photosynthesis and animal/plant respiration, the links to CO2 sinks and sources may be lost on students.
About the Pedagogy
- A hands-on activity with well-documented steps; leads groups of four students to consider the concepts of respiration and photosynthesis and their relationship to some of the carbon sources and sinks that exist on our planet.
- It does, however, make some pretty dramatic leaps from these results to their interpretation.
- Minimal assessment strategies provided.
