Carbon Dioxide Removal

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Carbon Dioxide Removal
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/climate-change/for-educators/carbon-dioxide-removal

American Museum of Natural History

In this experiment, students observe a natural process that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from Earth's atmosphere. This process is a part of the carbon cycle and results in temperature suitable for life. Students learn that the carbon cycle is a fundamental Earth process. Throughout Earth's history, the balance of carbon has kept the atmosphere's carbon dioxide (CO2) and Earth's temperature within relatively narrow ranges.

Activity takes one to two class periods or overnight for experiment. Additional materials are needed.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

See how this Activity supports the Next Generation Science Standards»

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Middle School

Performance Expectations: 1

MS-LS1-6: Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 1

MS-LS1.C1: Plants, algae (including phytoplankton), and many microorganisms use the energy from light to make sugars (food) from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water through the process of photosynthesis, which also releases oxygen. These sugars can be used immediately or stored for growth or later use.

Cross Cutting Concepts: 4

Energy and Matter, Structure and Function, Stability and Change, Cause and effect

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Energy and Matter, Structure and Function, Stability and Change, Cause and effect

MS-C2.2: Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural or designed systems.

MS-C5: Energy and Matter

MS-C6.1: Complex and microscopic structures and systems can be visualized, modeled, and used to describe how their function depends on the shapes, composition, and relationships among its parts; therefore, complex natural and designed structures/systems can be analyzed to determine how they function.

MS-C7.1: Explanations of stability and change in natural or designed systems can be constructed by examining the changes over time and forces at different scales, including the atomic scale.

Science and Engineering Practices: 3

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

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Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

MS-P3.4: Collect data to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer scientific questions or test design solutions under a range of conditions

MS-P6.1: Construct an explanation that includes qualitative or quantitative relationships between variables that predict(s) and/or describe(s) phenomena.

MS-P6.3: Construct a scientific explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources (including the students’ own experiments) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Grade Level

Middle (6-8)
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Topics

Carbon Cycle
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Greenhouse Gases
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Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

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Climate is complex

Energy Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Physical processes on Earth are the result of energy flow

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:C) Collecting information
Other materials addressing:
C) Collecting information.

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.

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.

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 incorporate articles that explain the carbon cycle and chemical equations, and possibly more information to provide more evidence for global warming and the connection between CO₂ in the atmosphere and global warming.
It is a good idea to have a larger sized diagram of the carbon cycle (that is legible) available for student use.

About the Content

It is an easy introductory lesson to the carbon cycle.
The activity effectively shows oxygen production of Elodea photosynthesis.
Diagrams included to help explain procedure and carbon cycle.
The educator will have to go to other sources for background material if needed.
Comment from expert scientist: This activity should be supplemented by additional and more in-depth information about the carbon cycle. It is important to note that fossil fuel combustion, vegetation burning, and deforestation, as well as plant soil respiration, are important other sources of CO₂.

About the Pedagogy

This lesson is a basic, hands-on activity that can be done in teams.
Lesson plan is written in a "cookbook" style. Educator will have to make sure that the students' understanding is actually built.
Multiple modalities are utilized in this lesson to address different learning styles.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

Well-designed and easy-to-do activity.

Entered the Collection: January 2012 Last Reviewed: December 2016