The carbon cycle and climate change
Carbon moves constantly between air, living things and the ground — but humans are now adding extra carbon dioxide faster than natural processes can remove it.
Part of your national curriculum
- Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere: Understand the carbon cycle and the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand the carbon cycle and the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate
Key learning points
- • The natural carbon cycle
- • Human impact
- • The greenhouse effect and climate
This lesson at a glance
- 26 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
The carbon cycle and climate change
Carbon moves constantly between air, living things and the ground — but humans are now adding extra carbon dioxide faster than natural processes can remove it.
In a nutshell
Understand the carbon cycle and the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · The natural carbon cycle
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
The natural carbon cycle
Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air by photosynthesis, storing carbon in their tissues. Animals eat plants, passing carbon along food chains. Respiration by plants and animals releases carbon dioxide back into the air. Decomposers release carbon dioxide as dead matter decays.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Human impact
Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) for energy and transport releases carbon dioxide that had been locked away for millions of years. Deforestation reduces the number of trees able to absorb carbon dioxide, both effects increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Which human activity most directly adds extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · The greenhouse effect and climate
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
The greenhouse effect and climate
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas: it lets sunlight in but absorbs and re-emits heat radiating from Earth's surface, warming the atmosphere. Rising carbon dioxide levels are enhancing this natural effect, contributing to global warming and climate change.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Plants remove ____ dioxide from the air by photosynthesis, storing carbon in their tissues.
Respiration by plants and animals releases carbon ____ back into the air.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Which human activity most directly adds extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: The carbon cycle and climate change
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which human activity most directly adds extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
2. How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?
3. Why is carbon dioxide called a greenhouse gas?
4. Which process removes carbon dioxide from the air?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
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Understand the carbon cycle and the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate