Plants in the Carbon Cycle

Plants in the Carbon Cycle

In today's lesson, you will learn about the role plants play in the carbon cycle.

​Open Mic Thursday!

I need a volunteer to explain what the carbon cycle is!

I understand that many of you will want to explain this, but there can only be one.

​Recall that the carbon cycle moves carbon atoms between the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. As chemical reactions rearrange atoms, carbon can take many forms, including:

• carbon dioxide

• glucose

• protein

• calcium carbonate

• fossil fuels

​What is a carbon reservoir?

​Reservoir is a big word. What does it mean?

​Here are some reservoirs that are a bit different than the ones we are talking about in the carbon cycle, but what are these reservoirs doing?

​The carbon cycle contains several carbon reservoirs, or areas that hold large amounts of carbon. Carbon reservoirs play an important role in regulating global climate. Plants are an important carbon reservoir. Plants also contribute to the formation of fossil fuels, another important carbon reservoir. In this lesson, you will learn why plants are a crucial part of the carbon cycle.

​The Carbon Cycle Amoeba Sisters Video

Multiple Choice

Which carbon reservoir holds most of its carbon in the form of carbon dioxide, or CO₂?

• atmosphere

• fossil fuels

• organisms

• rocks

Draw

Draw a diagram that shows how fossil fuels were formed!

It is okay if you are incorrect!

​Fossil Fuel Formation

A fossil fuel is an energy source that is formed from the remains of dead organisms. The three most common types of fossil fuels are:

• coal

• oil

• natural gas

Another name for oil is petroleum. Humans use fossil fuels as sources of energy to power homes, businesses, and automobiles.

Reorder

Drag to correctly order the steps of fossil fuel formation.

• Trees and plant matter become covered with water.

  
  

• Layers of sediment cover the plants.

  
  

• Sediment causes pressure, and high temperatures occur.

  
  

• The plant matter becomes a fossil fuel.

  
  

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Word Cloud

What type of fuel do you use to heat your house in the winter?

​When fossil fuels form, the glucose from plants undergoes a chemical reaction. Long chains of hydrocarbons form from the remains of the plant matter. A hydrocarbon is a molecule made of only the elements:

• hydrogen

• carbon

Hydrocarbons burn easily, so humans use them for fuel. For example, propane is a popular fuel used in gas stoves and grills. During combustion, the bonds between the atoms are broken, releasing energy.

​Fossil fuels contain the chemical energy from all of the plants that were compressed to form the fuel. Burning a fossil fuel does two things:

1. Fossil fuels release a lot of energy quickly, which makes them excellent energy sources.

1. Fossil fuels release a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere quickly, which adds pollution to the atmosphere.

Poll

Do you think that humans should continue to burn fossil fuels for energy?

• Yes, for sure.

• No, definitely not.

• Well... it's complicated.