S.P.A.C.E. LABORATORY NO.

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Carbon Cycle
Name Albina, Jaysziel Faith A. Rating:
Grade and Section 11-Biyo Date:

A. S.P.A.C.E. Lab Objectives:

At the end of the laboratory study, I should be able to:

1. Explore the many ways in which carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere, biosphere,
hydrosphere, and geosphere.
2. Trace pathway in which Carbon travels in the atmosphere and the ocean.
3. Create a simplified model of the Carbon cycle and explain how changes in atmospheric
Carbon are related to shifts in global climate.

B. Materials:
The S.P.A.C.E. Lab will require the following:

Carbon cyle Gizmo: Carbon Cycle Gizmo : ExploreLearning

Any device where the lab may be access.

C. Let’s do an e-lab!

The Carbon Cycle Gizmo allows you to follow the many paths an atom of carbon can take
through Earth’s systems. To begin, notice the black carbon atom in the Atmospheric CO2 area,
highlighted in yellow. The glowing blue areas represent possible locations the carbon atom
could go next.

1) From Earth’s atmosphere, where can the carbon atom go next?

The carbon atom can go to the Oceanic Co2, land plants and
Exposed rocks.
2) Click on Land plants and read the description. How did the
carbon atom get from the atmosphere to a plant?
The plats utilizes chemical energy from the sun to undergo
Photosynthesis. Then they release oxygen.
3) Select Land animals. How did the carbon atom get from
land plants into the animal?
They consume plants to replenish their energy.
4) Select Atmospheric CO2. How did the carbon atom get from land
animals back to the atmosphere?
Land animals release carbon dioxide through the cellular respiration back to the
atmosphere.
Use the Gizmo to create a path for carbon that begins and ends in the atmosphere. Fill in the
steps in the path below. Then, label each location with the system it represents. Finally,
summarize very briefly how the carbon atom got to that location.

Carbon path System How it got there

Atmospheric CO2 Atmosphere Atmospheric CO2 comes
from volcanoes, burning fossil
fuels, and other sources.

Plants utilizes carbon in the process call

Land Plants Biosphere
photosynthesis.

Animals will consume plants to replenish

Land Animals Biosphere
their energy.

Through the process of decomposition,

Soil Geosphere when animals decomposed their body
will become part of the soil.

The soil can be washed out to larger

Sediment Geosphere bodies of water that will later transform
into sediments.

When sediments are compressed, they

Lithosphere Geosphere will turn into sedimentary rocks that has
carbon.

Rocks will be melted because of the

Volcanoes Geosphere heat thus the carbon dioxide is mixed
with the magma that will form.

Once a volcano erupts, carbon will be

Atmospheric CO2 Atmosphere released and be back to our
atmosphere.
D. My Data and Observation:

Click Reset. Use the Gizmo to create a path in which the carbon atom goes from the atmosphere to
the hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere. Describe each transition briefly.

Atmosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere Geosphere

Atmospheric CO2 Oceanic CO2 Algae Volcanoes

Volcanoes, burning They travel from the Removes carbon Algae in the ocean
fossil fuel, and other atmosphere into the dioxide from ocean floor becomes
sources cold bodies of water. water through sediments that will form
photosynthesis. sedimentary rocks that
will later on melt into a
volcano.

E. Guide Questions:

1. Describe how Carbon can get from a land plant to the atmosphere.

It can go there through forest fires. When land plants burn, it releases fumes of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere. Another is through land animals, they exhale carbon dioxide
that is filtered back into the atmosphere.

2. Describe how Carbon can get from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere

Carbon can dissolve in ocean bodies because of the low temperature. Ocean atmosphere
carbon exchange also makes this possible.

3. Describe at least two ways that carbon can get from seashells to the atmosphere.

When a pile of shells are compressed on the ocean floor, its layers will become
limestones. This will go into the volcanoes. Once it erupts, it will release carbon
into the atmosphere.They can also go from limestones into cement plants and
once they are heated, it will release carbon into the atmosphere.

F. Conculsion:

Therefore, there are various ways to reuse our Earth’s carbon atoms for a long period of
time. The nature maintains the balance of carbon for us to live. In spite of too much burned
fossil fuels, the Earth remains habitable for us.
SCORING RUBRIC:
The experiment shall be rated based on the criteria below:
5 – Excellent; 4 – Very Good; 3 – Good; 2 – Poor; 1- Very Poor

CRITERIA RATING
1. Data is accurately and precisely presented.
2. Answers to the questions are relevant and accurate.
3. Analysis shows in-depth understanding of the principle/theory and or concept.
4. Conclusion is comprehensive and clearly related to the objective/s stated.
5. Experiment paper is neatly submitted.
TOTAL /30