This short video explains the basics of the carbon cycle, fossil fuels, and how human activity is impacting the natural systems.
Using animated images, the video describes how human activity has overloaded Earth's carbon cycle.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video provides a great introduction to the carbon cycle and climate change for students.
The video is brief and uses animated visuals to make the content easy to understand for all ages.
Additional Prerequisites
Teachers may want to review the link provided in the "learn more" section to share more information with students before or after viewing the video.
Students may never have heard of the carbon cycle before watching this video. Consider explaining this in more depth with students before or after viewing.
Differentiation
Subtitles are provided and a transcript is available in 33 languages.
Additional resources on this topic include this interactive carbon cycle game and this video introduction describing the significance of 1.5 degrees of global warming.
Scientist Notes
The video underscores the carbon cycle and its mechanism. It is insightful for students to learn and improve on their carbon footprint in order to achieve carbon neutrality. This resource is recommended.
Standards
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
6.ESS3.5 Ask clarifying questions based on evidence about the factors that have caused climate change over the past century.
8.ESS3.4 Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
7.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.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
HS.LS2.5 Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
