When it comes to the carbon cycle, the sky really is the limit. The lesson begins with observing a closed ecosystem in a bottle. Then, scholars discuss and answer questions on the carbon dioxide and oxygen cycles. 

Concepts

the carbon cycle, oxygen, ecosystems

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Create more than one bottle ecosystem and place them around the room
• Have multiple sizes of containers to cover the candle and discuss how long it takes before the flame goes out and why the variation exists

Classroom Considerations

• Plan ahead to make the ecosystems or to have the supplies ready for the class to make them since they include live plants and animals

Pros

• Includes deeper analysis through thought experiments
• Offers ideas for shortening the lesson if time is an issue

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.7 RST.9-10.7 RST.11-12.7