Story of a Nutrient Cycle Assignment
(Option A - Carbon)
A dandelion breathes in a carbon atom from the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. During
photosynthesis carbon atom becomes part of glucose (sugar) made by the dandelion plant. Then…
Continue the story to describe your journey. Use the diagram to help you.
You should demonstrate your understanding of the following scientific concepts:
● Nutrients are made of elements.
● Nutrients are found in different reservoirs on our planet.
● Nutrients can stay inside these reservoirs for different lengths of time (short periods of time
to thousands of years).
● Nutrients travel through abiotic and biotic parts of an ecosystem (Earth’s biosphere) in
different paths.
● Nutrient cycle diagrams are used to determine how the nutrient could travel through the
biosphere.
● Each stage of a nutrient cycle involves a PROCESS (chemical or physical) during which
matter is CONVERTED from one form to another.
● Nutrient cycles are continuous (they never end) and non-linear (they don’t follow a straight
path).
● Sustainability of the Earth’s ecosystems depends on nutrient cycles. Nutrient cycles can be
affected by humans!
Example 1: the nitrogen cycle can be affected by too much fertilizer.
Example 2: the carbon cycle can be affected by the burning of fossil fuels.
Story of a Nutrient Cycle Assignment
(Option B - Nitrogen)
You are a nitrogen molecule (N​2​) floating around in the atmosphere. All of a sudden . . . zap! Lightning
strikes! The enormous energy of lightning changes you from a gas to a solid and you fall down to the
earth during rain storm. Then . . .
Continue the story to describe your journey. Use the diagram to help you.
You should demonstrate your understanding of the following scientific concepts:
● Nutrients are made of elements.
● Nutrients are found in different reservoirs on our planet.
● Nutrients can stay inside these reservoirs for different lengths of time (short periods of time
to thousands of years).
● Nutrients travel through abiotic and biotic parts of an ecosystem (Earth’s biosphere) in
different paths.
● Nutrient cycle diagrams can be used to determine how the nutrient could travel through the
biosphere.
● Each stage of a nutrient cycle involves a PROCESS (chemical or physical) during which
matter is CONVERTED from one form to another.
● Nutrient cycles are continuous (they never end) and non-linear (they don’t follow a straight
path).
● Sustainability of the Earth’s ecosystems depends on nutrient cycles. Nutrient cycles can be
affected by humans!
Example 1: the nitrogen cycle can be affected by too much fertilizer.
Example 2: the carbon cycle can be affected by the burning of fossil fuels.