Earths Natural Cycles The Earth recycles all its important materials

Earth’s three natural cycles  Water Cycle  Nitrogen Cycle  Carbon Cycle The Earth has a limited supply of materials. The air we breathe, the food We eat and the water we drink has been here for millions of years. The materials from a slice of pizza that you eat may have been part of a Dinosaur 100 million years ago. Materials are reused through earths Natural cycles.

Water Cycle  The water cycle is very important to Earth because it naturally recycles water giving a fresh supply to life.  Sun fuels the evaporation in the water cycle.  As water evaporates from unclean bodies of water such as swamps, mud puddles and ditches it is naturally purified and falls as clean precipitation.

Nitrogen Cycle  Nitrogen is a gas in the earth’s atmosphere. Nitrogen is important to all living things. The nitrogen cycle describes the movement of nitrogen through living things. Nitrogen helps animals build muscle and perform daily activities.  Nitrogen is important to decomposers and plants. When animals die the bacteria in soil eat the remains. As they do this they break down the nitrogen from these animals into something that plants can eat. Animals receive nitrogen by eating plants. As animals die the cycle continues.

Carbon Cycle  All living things are made of carbon. The carbon cycle describes how carbon moves through the environment.  Carbon is found as a gas in the air called carbon dioxide. Plants use this gas, water and the sunlight to make food and grow.  Animals eat plants and receive the carbon from them. As animals grow and breathe they release carbon dioxide into the air.  Plants consume the carbon dioxide and continue the cycle.

Guess the Cycle  The sun fuels this cycle  Plants create take gas out of the air during this cycle.  Decomposers help plants consume this materials.  Animals release gas into the air as they breathe.  This cycle helps keep lakes clean.

Important Questions to Study  Can you name and label Earth’s 3 natural cycles.  Are you able to describe why the water cycle is important?  Are you able to name the source that fuels the water cycle.  Are you able to describe why nitrogen is an important gas.  Are you able to identify what types of animals are important to the Nitrogen cycle.  Are you able to describe why carbon is an important gas.  Are you able to identify how animals receive carbon.