Carbon Cycle & Water Cycle

This lesson covers:

  1. Why substances like carbon and water have to be recycled 
  2. The steps of the water cycle 
  3. The steps of the carbon cycle 

Why is recycling nutrients important for all living organisms?

It removes waste materials that make the environment look unpleasant

It provides the nutrients that living organisms use to grow and reproduce

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Water Cycle 


precipitation / vapour / evaporates / transpiration / clouds


  1. Water from lakes, rivers, oceans, and the soil, into water , and rises into the atmosphere.
  2. Water can also evaporate from plants in a process called .
  3. As the water vapour accumulates it can condense to form .
  4. Later, the water will fall as rain, which we call .
  5. The water will then seep into the soil, flow into rivers or lakes, and be taken up by plants. 
  6. The whole cycle then repeats over and over. 
evaporates
vapour
transpiration
clouds
precipitation

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Which statement about evaporation is correct?

Evaporation requires energy

Evaporation releases energy

Evaporation is a passive process

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Illustration showing the process of water condensation with a water droplet, a cloud, and an ice cube.

What happens to water during condensation?

Water vapour turns into ice

Liquid water turns into ice

Water vapour turns into liquid water

Liquid water turns into water vapour

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Which process in the carbon cycle removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

Decomposition 

Feeding 

Photosynthesis 

Combustion

Respiration 

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Which three processes in the carbon cycle release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?

(Select all that apply)

Decomposition

Respiration 

Combustion

Photosynthesis 

Feeding 

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Which carbon-containing compound do plants produce during photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide 

Glucose 

Proteins 

Oxygen

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Illustration of carbon dioxide molecules showing carbon and oxygen atoms.

Why is it important that there is carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Carbon dioxide is needed for respiration in animals

Carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis in plants

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Illustration showing organisms that decompose dead organic matter including a bacterium, fungi, plant, and a cow.

Which organisms decompose dead organic matter?

Bacteria

Viruses 

Plants 

Fungi

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