6th - 8th Grade Module 7 Concept 4

Cycle 2

How might the use of biofuels affect ecosystems?
Cycle Summary

Ask questions about the phenomenon of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Use models to examine the cause and effect relationship between the variables of carbon dioxide, sea ice, sea level, and global temperatures.

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Session 4
Elicit

Students ask and answer questions about how carbon cycles in the environment.

Engage

Students look at data of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time and ask questions about this phenomenon.

Explore

Students look at four different simulations of how our planet is changing and think about what the relationship might be between these four variables.

Session 5
Explain

Students look at multiple sources of evidence to construct an explanation for why carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere, and how this increased carbon dioxide impacts our planet.
Students play a Carbon Cycle game.

Session 6
Elaborate

Students apply what they have learned to make an infographic or drawing about why their photobioreactor research is important for the health of the planet.

Evaluate

Students evaluate each others’ infographics or drawings in order to make them stronger.

Extend
Extend

Students research real-world companies and institutions that are studying biofuel production. They develop questions they’d like to ask a biofuel research scientist or biofuel developer.