Repeating, Connected, Predictable

Where have you heard the word cycle before? Water cycle? Motorcycle? Bicycle? Wash cycle? Recycle?

What do you think that a cycle is? A cycle is a predictable repeating pattern. Here are some other cycles that you may not have thought of: Lunar cycle Seasons Day and night Life cycle of animals and plants Food chains/webs Carbon cycle Nitrogen cycle

The water cycle

The process of water movement from the ground to the sky and then back to the ground is called the Water Cycle.

The Lunar Cycle Night Day

We see the moon differently each night. The differences are called phases.

Another important cycle is the food web or food chain. The food web begins with the sun. The sun gives energy to plants The plants feed consumers The consumers are eaten by other consumers Animals and plants die and decomposers break the plants and animals down into nutrients that help new plants to grow. The cycle repeats

sun

The arrows show the direction of energy flow.

Food chainsFood chains and food webs show the flow of energy through an ecosystem. Food chains are linear depictions of energy flow, while food webs show the multiple interactions among the different types of organisms. Food webs are generally a more realistic portrayal of the energy flow in the system. After all, most organisms eat more than one type of food and can be eaten by more than one type of predator.food websecosystem

Life Cycles

Photosynthesis is a cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle 1. Organic wastes (from plants and animals) add nitrogen to the soil. 2. Bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen into forms plants can use. 3. Plants use nitrogen in the soil to grow, develop, and produce seeds. 4. Plants are eaten by animals and people. The organic waste (which contains nitrogen) is returned to the soil again.

The Carbon Cycle

Seasons come in a cycle Winter always comes before spring. Spring always comes before summer. Summer always comes before fall. Fall always comes before winter

Cycles are everywhere. We see cycles in: Living things The Earth The sky The water