Original Promptcreate a phenomenon based inquiry based around the exploration of the Carbon cycle including background information data sets, graphs, and a CER.
This learning resource focuses on the carbon cycle, detailing its components, processes, and significance in Earth's ecosystems. Students will analyze how carbon moves through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. The resource presents historical CO2 data, emphasizing the impact of human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation on this cycle. Key vocabulary includes carbon reservoirs, carbon flux, photosynthesis, and respiration. Students engage in observation and questioning, explore data sets on carbon reservoirs and fluxes, and assess how their findings relate to current environmental issues, such as ocean acidity and coral reef bleaching. The document also encourages the application of the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) framework to articulate scientific arguments regarding the effects of human actions on the natural carbon cycle.