1. DO NOW
Date:
3/17
Q: How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
What is happening to the apples in this picture? How does this happen?

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
OBJECTIVES:
-Observe cycles of matter
-Discuss how and why matter cycles
-Define Cycles and Biomass

3. Decaying Watermelon Timelapse
35 Days shortened to 1 minute. Turn and Talk: What decomposers are at work in this video? What might be the benefits to decay? Are there any negative consequences to decay?

4. What if?
Turn and Talk Describe what it would be like if no organisms were ever broken down, if that they remained preserved at the surface of the Earth.

5. Good Bacteria vs. Bad Bacteria
Are all bacteria bad? Good Bacteria vs. Bad Bacteria

6. Vocabulary
Cycle A periodically repeated sequence of events.

7. 3 Cycles
WATER
NITROGEN
CARBON

8. Vocabulary
Biomass The matter that comes from living, or recently living organisms. Turn and talk: Give some examples of biomass in your life.

9. Thanks!
Write a thank you letter to bacteria for breaking down all of the organic material left by dead plants and animals.
Include the reasons the bacteria are a good thing for breaking down matter.

10. DO NOW
Date:
3/18
Q: How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
Log into a laptop.
Which of the following compounds are organic? How do you know?
A. C6H12O D.
B. CO2
C. H2O2

11. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
OBJECTIVES:
-Discuss where we can find Carbon
-Explore the carbon cycle on laptops
-Set up Composting bin

12. Where in the world is…?
Carbon Sandiego?? Think/Pair/Share Where can Carbon be found in your world?

13. Brainpop
Carbon Cycle

14. Carbon Cycle Game
Go to the following webpage: ***Fill out your foldable as you play the game.

15. Let’s Compost!
Vermicomposting set up. VERMI = Worm

16. Carbon Cycle Debrief

17. DO NOW Q: How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
Date:
3/19
3/20
Q: How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
Look at the graph above and read the information.
What are the possible causes for the changes in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?

18. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
OBJECTIVES:
-Watch a clip from “Pigs and Politics”
-Explore the Nitrogen Cycle Stations

19. Video
Pigs and Politics

20. Station Activity
Complete your handout as you rotate through stations. Expectations: -Stay on task -Do not leave your group -Voice level 2

21. Brainpop
Nitrogen Cycle

22. Nitrogen Cycle Debrief

23. Atmosphere (air) How did you arrive? Where are you at?
Where are you going? or
Bacteria have transformed you into nitrogen gas and you are now part of the atmosphere!
Lightning strikes! Nitrogen gas is make into a solid and travels to the soil!
Blue green algae and bacteria convert you into a solid bringing you to the soil!
Atmosphere (air)
Debrief Question(s):
Based on the pie chart above, what percentage (%) of the atmosphere is nitrogen?
21% b. 0.1% c. 78%
Bean plants extract you from the air and bring you to the soil!
Forest Fire! The wood you were within is burnt and you have been released into the atmosphere. or
Some nitrogen can get into the water in clouds and then fall as rain!

24. Surface Water How did you arrive? Where are you at?
Where are you going?
You fall into a lake or stream so now you are part of surface water. or
You are just the sort of nitrogen that plants need to live. You are now within a live plant!
You are decomposed and become dissolved in surface water!
Surface
Water or
What’s that in the water? You have dissolved into surface water!
You travel through the rivers and streams to the ocean!
Debrief Question(s):
2. If plants need nitrogen to grow, then how will adding extra nitrogen to the water affect the growth of aquatic (water) plants like algae?
Aquatic plants will die
Aquatic plants will grow rapidly
Aquatic plants will not be able to preform photosynthesis.
You dissolve and wash into the surface water! or
The groundwater you are dissolved within travels and you become part of the surface water!
You percolate deep underground in the groundwater!

25. Rain Water How did you arrive? Where are you at? Where are you going?
Some nitrogen can get into the water in clouds and then fall as rain!
You fall into a lake or stream so now you are part of surface water. or
You fall on the land and become part of the soil!
Rain
Water
Debrief Question(s):
3. According to the map above, which parts of the United states from 1989 to 1991 had higher concentrations of nitrogen in the their rain.
South West United States
North East United States
North West United States
You percolate deep underground in the groundwater! or
You rain into the ocean!

26. You percolate deep underground in the groundwater!
How did you arrive?
Where are you at?
Where are you going?
You percolate deep underground in the groundwater! or or
You dissolve and wash into the groundwater!
The groundwater you are dissolved within travels and you become part of the surface water!
Ground
Water or or
Debrief Question(s):
4. Aquifers are like underground likes that store water. Texas has many aquifers, which we draw from for our drinking water. Which major aquifer does Austin sit above? (see large map on back)
The groundwater you are dissolved within travels and you become part of the ocean!
Look out! Water is on the move! You have washed into the groundwater!

28. Fertilizers How did you arrive? Where are you at? Where are you going?or
A farm supply company has picked you up and made you into fertilizer!
You dissolve and wash into the surface water! or
You become part of the soil!
Fertilizers
Debrief Question(s):
5. If nitrogen is present in the waste of animals, like cows and humans, then which statement below must be true?
Animals must consume organisms that contain nitrogen.
Animals must breathe in and absorb nitrogen gas into their bodies.
Animals must transform other elements in their bodies into nitrogen. or
You are just the sort of nitrogen that plants need to live. You are now within a live plant!

29. Soil (Dirt) How did you arrive? Where are you at? Where are you going?
Bean plants extract you from the air and bring you to the soil!
You dissolve and wash into the groundwater!
Blue green algae and bacteria convert you into a solid bringing you to the soil!
You become part of the soil!
You dissolve and wash into the surface water!
Soil
(Dirt)
Lightning strikes! Nitrogen gas is make into a solid and travels to the soil! or
You are just the sort of nitrogen that plants need to live. You are now within a live plant!
Debrief Question(s):
6. Ammonium, NH4, is a nitrogen compound found in animal waste and in soil. Ammonium, NH4, is an organic compound: True or False.
You are decomposed and become part of the soil! or
Bacteria have transformed you into nitrogen gas and you are now part of the atmosphere!
You fall on the land and become part of the soil!

30. Ocean How did you arrive? Where are you at? Where are you going? Texas
You travel through the rivers and streams to the ocean!
Texas
Louisiana
Look out! Water is on the move! You have washed into the groundwater!
You rain into the ocean!
Gulf of Mexico or
Ocean
You are just the sort of nitrogen that plants need to live. You are now within a live plant!
Debrief Question(s):
7.A lot of nitrogen compounds enter the Gulf of Mexico (show in red on the map above) and settle near the coast. What is the most likely source of the excess (or extra) nitrogen.
Organisms that live in the Gulf of Mexico produce more waste
Nitrogen fertilizers from farms runoff into rivers that dump into the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricanes push nitrogen up to the coast where it collects.
You are decomposed and become dissolved in the ocean! or or
Bacteria have transformed you into nitrogen gas and you are now part of the atmosphere!
The groundwater you are dissolved within travels and you become part of the ocean!

31. Animal Waste How did you arrive? Where are you at?
Where are you going?
Congratulations! The animal that you were within has excreted and you are in its waste. Go to animal waste! or
Look out before someone steps in you! Now you are decomposing in the soil! or
A farm supply company has picked you up and made you into fertilizer!
Animal Waste
Debrief Question(s):
8. Many farmers use animal waste as fertilizer for their crops. Why would farmers use animal waste to help their crops grow?
The smell of waste keeps away organisms that might eat the crops
Plants need nitrogen to grow, and animal waste contains nitrogen
Animal waste has lots of sugars in it that the plants can use for energy or
What’s that in the water? You have dissolved into surface water!

32. Dead Plants & Animals How did you arrive? Where are you at?
Where are you going?
The plant that you are within has died. Go to dead plants and animals. or
You are decomposed and become part of the soil!
You are decomposed and become dissolved in surface water!
Dead Plants & Animals
Debrief Question(s):
9. Organisms that break down and recycle dead matter are classified as _____.
Herbivores
Decomposers
Producers
You are decomposed and become dissolved in the ocean! or
The animal that you are within has died. Go to dead plants and animals.
Forest Fire! The wood you were within is burnt and you have been released into the atmosphere.

33. Live Plants How did you arrive? Where are you at? Where are you going?
You are just the sort of nitrogen that plants need to live. You are now within a live plant! or or
The plant that you are within has died. Go to dead plants and animals.
Live Plants
Debrief Question(s):
10. Which plant structure allows the plant to absorb nitrogen from the soil?
Leaves
Stem
Roots or or
An animal has eaten the plant that you are within! Go to live animals!

34. Live Animals How did you arrive? Where are you at?
Where are you going?
An animal has eaten the plant that you are within! Go to live animals! or or
The animal that you are within has died. Go to dead plants and animals.
Live Animals
Debrief Question(s):
11. Animals that consume or eat only plant matter are classified as ____.
Herbivores
Carnivores
Omnivores or or
Congratulations! The animal that you were within has excreted and you are in its waste. Go to animal waste!

35. For Test tomorrow… Study your glossary handout.
Vocabulary is important!!!
Study food chains, webs, and pyramids.
Know your Water, Carbon, and Nitrogen Cycles.

36. DO NOW
Date:
3/21
Q: How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
How is Nitrogen released back into the environment from living things?

37. ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
How does matter cycle and change through living systems?
OBJECTIVES:
-Take a test on how Energy Flows and Matter Cycles through an ecosystem.