1. STARTER: Write down EVERYTHING you know about nitrogen?

2. Environmental Systems
The Nitrogen Cycle
Environmental Systems

3. Matter cycles – Nitrogen cycle!
Learning outcomes…
You should all be able to:
Identify the conversion of nitrogen between organic and inorganic storages.
Describe the transfer and transformation of nitrogen as it moves within the ecosystem.
Most of you should be able to:
Construct your own flow diagram of the nitrogen cycle.
Some of you might be able to:
Explain these transfers and transformations.

4. It is one of nature’s great ironies…
Nitrogen is an essential component of DNA, RNA, and proteins—the building blocks of life.
Although the majority of the air we breathe is nitrogen, most living organisms are unable to use nitrogen as it exists in the atmosphere!

5. How does atmospheric nitrogen get changed into a form that can be used by most living organisms?

6. By traveling through one of the four processes in the Nitrogen Cycle!
(1) Nitrogen Fixation
(4) Denitrification
Nitrogen Cycle
(3) Nitrification
(2) Ammonification

7. decomposition by bacteria & fungi
Nitrogen in
the air
animal protein
dead plants & animals
urine & faeces
ammonia
nitrites
nitrates
plant made
protein
decomposition by bacteria & fungi
Nitrosomonas
(nitrifying bacteria)
nitrates absorbed
denitrifying
Pseudomonas
denitrificans
root nodules
(containing Rhizobium)
nitrogen fixing plant
eg pea, clover
Nitrobacter
Azobacter
(free-living)

8. Your task! Imagine you are a nitrogen atom!
Write a series of tweets using the template provided to illustrate your journey around the nitrogen cycle
Think about :
-Where you are now….
-Where you are going next….
-What forms you have taken along the way….
Don´t forget to explain any meetings with bacteria or how you have changed as a molecule! .