The Carbon Cycle Inquiry Game

By: Jody Bertolucci and Margaret Lowry

(Click on our names to e-mail us!)

Index:

Background Information
Lecture Material
Game Rules
Game Materials
Correlation to National Standards
References
Extensions

Back to Carbon Cycle Page

Background Information:

This game was created to serve several functions in the classroom. We have envisioned it to either introduce or close a unit on Global Warming or the Carbon Cycle. This activity can serve as a Pre-Assessment tool for students to inquire into their previous knowledge of the carbon cycle. It would create the disequilibrium needed to hook the student and engage them to question further. In addition, it may serve as a alternative Post-Assessment for the close of the unit.

We have included lecture materials on the Carbon Cycle that cover all of the content needed for the game. This is found under lecture materials. A powerpoint version of this can be obtained by contacting Margaret Lowry (e-mail address above).

The game contains two main parts. The first part is a series of 75 questions on the Carbon Cycle, Global Warming, and Environmental Consequences. These questions are intentionally challenging. The questions will hopefully convey the complexity of Global Climate Change. It should also inspire interest as to the causes of Climate Change and the possible methods of correction.

The second part of the game is designed to show students what type of everyday activities have negative and positive effects on the environment. These effect cards (one positive and one negative) are given point values to help demonstrate how human activity affects the environment.

To Top Background Information Game Rules Game Materials National Standards References Back to Carbon Page

Game Rules:

Teams:

Students will work in teams or two and there will be three teams per game board.

Objective/Directions:

Students will roll dice to travel around the game board finally reaching the center. The game will start in the corner that says start. It will end in the center where the lines all intersect. Poker chips will represent their movements. Along the route, students will answer Inquiry Question Cards that match the color square on which they have landed. This will allow them to accumulate inquiry cards of various colors.

Teachers have the choice of using any cards they wish. If a question is determined to be inappropriate for the grade level, it should be removed. We have also created a second set of cards that have the answers to questions.

The goal is two-fold. The winners will need to reach the winning square first, but will need to possess at least one Yellow, one Green, and one White Inquiry Card to qualify as the winners. Secondly, students will collect bonus Getting Hotter and Getting Colder Cards throughout their travel. Each Hot or Cold card will be assigned a CO₂ value and the winners in the circle will need to have between 20 and 30 CO₂ values or points.

Rationale:

As students travel throughout the board, they will be questioned about the carbon cycle, global warming, historical aspects, and future predictions regarding these topics. After rolling the dice, the students will move the appropriate number of spaces in any direction they wish. They will land on a particular color and the color will correspond to the Inquiry Question Card or Getting Hotter or Getting Colder card. They will then draw the appropriate card from the deck. They will receive a colored Inquiry Card when a question is answered correctly. This will warrant a second turn. Students will lose their turn when they make an error in answering the question.

When students land on a blue or red space, they will receive a Getting Hotter or Getting Colder card. These are actions humans commit that either add or delete CO₂ to or from the atmosphere. The Getting Hotter or Getting Colder cards each are assigned a positive or negative point value. Students will start the game with 25 carbon dioxide chits and try to maintain that level. Once a CO₂ card is used, it can go into a discard pile. By playing the game, students will discover they need to learn more about global warming and how it is pertinent to their daily lives.

To Top Background Information Game Rules Game Materials National Standards Resources Back to Carbon Cycle

Game Materials:

Per Game Board:

One set of Yellow, Green, and White Inquiry Cards.
One set of Pink Getting Hotter Cards
One set of Blue Getting Colder Cards
One set of dice
Poker chips (three per team with each pair getting one) or game board playing pieces.
Beans or anything to represent the carbon dioxide chit (minimum 150 chits per team)
Game board (poster board or a world map) with alternating squares of yellow, green, white, pink, and blue to mark the route.

Optional Game Board: place the questions around your room and let the students travel as they move around the room answering the questions.

(For a large world map, approximately 25 one and a half inch squares of each color are glued to the board)

Green Inquiry Cards:

What percentage of Global Warming is attributed to Carbon Dioxide levels?	What percentage has Carbon Dioxide increased each year?	How much higher Carbon Dioxide levels now than in the pre-industrial period?
How much will the temperature increase when Carbon Dioxide levels double?	What is the estimated temperature increase for the last century?	How many degrees in Fahrenheit is one degree Celsius?
What do scientists project will happen to the amount of precipitation with increased surface temperature?	What is theorized to happen to the Great Plains of the US with global warming?	Which would increase sea levels, the polar ice cap of the North Pole or the South Pole melting?
Where would more Global Warming take place, the Equator or the North Pole?	What will happen to precipitation during the winter in the northern continents?	What is the basic element of all living things?
What compound is generated by rice paddies, decomposing garbage, fossil fuel, and cow farts?	Why did temperatures not reach predicted increases until after 1970?	How many times has a carbon atom made it through the carbon cycle in the last four billion years?
Name three fossil fuels.	What do fossil fuels have in common?	What does coal come from?
What are three compounds that contain carbon?	Without the presence of greenhouse gases, how cold would our planet be?	What does petroleum come from?
What would happen to the growing season if Global Warming takes place?	When are scientists predicting Carbon Dioxide levels to be twice the amount of pre-industrial times?	What will summer be like with increased global temperatures?

Green Answer Cards:

What percentage of Global Warming is attributed to Carbon Dioxide levels? 60% since pre-industrial time	What percentage has Carbon Dioxide increased each year? 0.3%	How much higher are Carbon Dioxide levels now than in the pre-industrial period? 30%
How much will the temperature increase when Carbon Dioxide levels double? 1 to 3.5%	What is the estimated temperature increase for the last century? 0.5 degrees Celsius	How many degrees in Fahrenheit is one degree Celsius? 1.8 F = 1 C
What do scientists project will happen to the amount of precipitation with increased surface temperature? Each precipitation event will have more rain.	What is theorized to happen to the Great Plains of the US with global warming? Hotter and drier in winter and spring.	Which would increase sea levels, the polar ice cap of the North Pole or the South Pole melting? The South Pole
Where would more Global Warming take place, the Equator or the North Pole? The North Pole	What will happen to precipitation during the winter in the northern continents? Night temperatures will be warmer and/or frost-free season will be longer.	What is the basic element of all living things? Carbon
What compound is generated by rice paddies, decomposing garbage, fossil fuel, and cow farts? Methane	Why did temperatures not reach predicted increases until after 1970? Sulfate aerosols had a cooling effect.	How many times has a carbon atom made it through the carbon cycle in the last four billion years? About 30
Name three fossil fuels. Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas	What do fossil fuels have in common? They are carbon based, remnants of organisms that are fossilized	What does coal come from? Plants that have fossilized.
What are three compounds that contain carbon? Petroleum, Humans, Plants	Without the presence of greenhouse gases, how cold would our planet be? -0.4 F or -18 C	What does petroleum come from? Dead aquatic organisms.
What would happen to the growing season if Global Warming takes place? It would be longer.	When are scientists predicting Carbon Dioxide levels to be twice the amount of pre-industrial times? 2060	What will summer be like with increased global temperatures? Hotter and drier.

Yellow Inquiry Cards:

What does natural gas come from?	How is carbon taken into your body?	Name two ways carbon escapes your body.
What percentage of coal consumed in the US is due to the production of electricity?	What percentage of the world's petroleum is consumed by the US each year?	How many gallons of petroleum are consumed each year globally per person?
When did scientists first discuss global warming?	If the summers are hotter and dryer, what will happen to the available water during the growing season?	Which conference recognized global warming as a problem?
When was the IPCC formed?	When was it said that the global temperature has significantly warmed due to man's influence?	When was it decided that all countries would track Carbon Dioxide?
When did the little ice age peak?	How much of a temperature drop caused the little ice age?	What is the source of carbon in the carbon cycle?
How does carbon move from plants to animals in the carbon cycle?	Name three ways carbon is released to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle?	Name two ways carbon can be locked-up for long periods of time.
Why was so much coal used in the industrial revolution?	Which fossil fuel burns without wasting the most energy?	Which conference agreed that there should be cut-backs in global gases?
When was it decided that the IPCC would meet annually?	How does carbon dioxide get into an ecosystem?	Name two inorganic substances carbon can be locked away in for long periods of time.

Yellow Answer Cards

What does natural gas come from? Decomposition of organic material.	How is carbon taken into your body. Ingestion.	Name two ways carbon escapes your body. Respiration and waste material.
What percentage of coal consumed in the US is due to the production of electricity? 22%	What percentage of the world's petroleum is consumed by the US each year? 30%	How many gallons of petroleum are consumed each year globally per person? 200
When did scientists first discuss global warming? 1979	If the summers are hotter and drier, what will happen to the available water during the growing season? There will be less water.	Which conference recognized global warming as a problem? Geneva -- 1979
When was the IPCC formed? 1995	When was it said that the global temperature has significantly warmed due to man's influence? 1995	When was it decided that all countries would track Carbon Dioxide? 1992
When did the little ice age peak? Around the 1700's	How much of a temperature drop caused the little ice age? 0.5 degrees C	What is the source of carbon in the carbon cycle? Carbon Dioxide in plants, weathering, respiration, or combustion.
How does carbon move from plants to animals in the carbon cycle? Through food webs	Name three ways carbon is released to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle? Respiration, weathering, combustion	Name two ways carbon can be locked-up for log periods of time. In fossil fuels, trees, etc.
Why was so much coal used in the industrial revolution? Electricity to run factories, transportation, manufacturing, etc.	Which fossil fuel burns without wasting the most energy? Natural Gas	Which conference agreed that there should be cut-backs in global gases? 1995 and Kyoto 1997
When was it decided that the IPCC would meet annually? 1995	How does carbon dioxide get into an ecosystem? Food web	Name two inorganic substances carbon can be locked away in for long periods of time. Rocks and oceans.

White Inquiry Cards

How is carbon released into the atmosphere through weathering?	Why is deforestation harmful to the environment?	Why is ocean pollution harmful to the environment?
Name three carbon sinks.	Carbon Dioxide is what percentage of the contribution to global warming since 1850?
Name three things carbon is used for in the animal body.	How does the carbon in living organisms get back into the carbon cycle.	What is peat made up of?
	Name one way that Carbon Dioxide is taken into the ocean?	What type of organisms in the oceans take up Carbon Dioxide?
What two gases does decomposition release into the atmosphere?	What gas is released by volcanos that can be harmful to the atmosphere?	Name three petroleum products that are found in your home.
Which season of the year is Carbon Dioxide production greatest?	Which season of the year is Carbon Dioxide production least?	Which has more carbon Dioxide production, the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean?
Methane is what percentage of the contribution to global warming?	Which lasts longer in the atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide or CFC's?	List the man made contributions to global warming.
What is the Greenhouse Effect?	Name three reasons we burn fossil fuels.	How do dead organic things become fossil fuels?

White Answer Cards:

How is Carbon released into the atmosphere through weathering? CaCO₃ in rocks. Adding water to rocks releases CO₂forming carbonic acid and then bicarbonate & carbonate ions.	Why is deforestation harmful to the environment? Without the plants, more Carbon Dioxide is not removed from the atmosphere.	Why is ocean pollution harmful to the environment? Ocean pollution can cause algae to die and therefore not remove Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere.
Name three carbon sinks. Oceans, Fossil Fuels, Forests	Carbon Dioxide is what percentage of the contribution to global warming since 1850? 60%
Name three things carbon is used for in the animal body. Hair, muscle, skin	How does the carbon in living organisms get back into the carbon cycle? Through the energy web or respiration or decomposition or burining	What is peat made up of? Organic (plant) materials buried in bogs.
	Name one way that Carbon Dioxide is taken into the ocean. Through algae in the ocean.	What type of organisms in the oceans take up Carbon Dioxide? Algae/Kelp/Phytoplankton.
What two gases does decomposition release into the atmosphere? Carbon Dioxide & Methane	What gas is released by volcanos that can be harmful to the atmosphere? Carbon Dioxide or Sulfates	Name three petroleum products that are found in your home. Varies-plastics...etc.
Which season of the year is Carbon Dioxide production greatest? Summer	Which season of the year is Carbon Dioxide production least? Winter	Which has more Carbon Dioxide production, the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean? Pacific
Methane is what percentage of the contribution to global warming? 15%	Which lasts longer in the atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide or CFC's? CFC's	List the man made contributions to global warming. Cars, industry, burning forests, etc.
What is the Greenhouse Effect? The process where heat is trapped by atmospheric gases above the earth.	Name three reasons we burn fossil fuels. Generating electricity, steam engines, transportation fuel (cars)	How do dead organic things become fossil fuels? Organisms die, fall to the bottom of wetlands/oceans, are compressed by water and sediment.

Getting Hotter?

You kept your thermostat at 90 degrees from Christmas until Valentines Day, this contributes to global temperature rise. (+1)	The frequency of heat waves increase, small children and animals are more likely to die from heat stroke. (+2)	Your company dumps pollutants in the ocean, algae cannot survive, oxygen is not produced. (+3)
The frequency of heat waves increase, crops are lost, food prices soar. (+2)	The north pole begins to melt and releases more carbon dioxide than all fossil fuels ever burned. (+4)	Pizza Hut goes out of business because cows are too expensive to keep for cheese production. (+1)
Heat, increased UV, and pollutants cause reduced immune systems, everyone is sick more often. (+2)	Plants and animals are forced out of their current ranges and into higher, cooler regions. (+2)	The frequency of heat waves increases, cattle starve, a hamburger costs $15. (+2)
Some scientists believe that the earth will regulate itself and cool on its own time. (+2)	Polar ice caps melt and much of Florida and the Gulf Coast is now underwater. (+3)	Mosquitoes have more places to grow and malaria becomes more widespread. (+2)
Polar ice caps melt and temperature continues to rise because the ice isn't there to reflect the sunlight. (+1)	Some nations don't honor their word to cut back on carbon dioxide emissions. (+2)	Some scientists don't believe in global warming and continue to burn fossil fuel at an alarming rate. (+1)
You keep the temperature high enough to have a beach party at Christmas time. (+1)	Polar ice caps melt and people from small islands must now relocate with no jobs. (+2)	Polar ice caps melt and many species are lost forever. (+2)
Population increases and drives energy consumption higher than ever. (+2)	Insurance companies refuse to insure coastal property because of the melting of the polar ice cap. (+2)	You buy a loaded, gas-guzzling car, that uses way too much fuel. (+3)
The south pole begins to melt and the ocean levels rise. (+2)

Getting Colder Cards

You carpool to work with four other people instead of driving to work alone. (-2)	You purchase a fuel efficient vehicle -- not a Cadillac. (-1)	You plant trees. (-2)
You keep the thermostat at 75 during the summer to conserve energy. (-3)	You keep the thermostat at 65 during the winter to conserve energy. (-3)	You replace your old air-conditioning unit with a non-CFC unit. (-4)
You ride your bicycle to the store. (-2)	You recycle your cans, paper, and plastic. (-2)	You adopt an acre of rainforest. (-2)
You petition your electric company to use alternative sources of energy. (-1)	You use public transportation. (-2)	You put solar panels in your living room. (-3)
You use your own canvas bag at the grocery store. (-2)	You visit a tropical country to promote ecotourism that saves the forest. (-2)	You travel to the pacific Northwest to replant the temperate rainforest. (-2)
You learn that with less plants and less algae, there is less oxygen for you to breathe. (-2)	You buy some land and just let things grow. (-1)	You turn off the lights with you leave the room. (-1)
You petition to stop chemical dumping in the oceans that kills algae. (-1)	You use sunlight during the day and not electric light. (-1)	Your burn natural gas instead of coal or wood. (-1)
You eat a vegi-burger instead of a steak (less cows to fart!) (-2)

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Background Information

Correlation to National Standards:

5-8th Grade

Physical Science	Life Science	Earth Science	Science and Technology:	Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
Transfer of Energy	Population and Ecosystems	Structure of Earth System Earth's History	Understanding about Science and Technology	Natural Hazards Risks and Benefits Science, Technology, and Society

9-12th Grade

Physical Science	Life Science	Environmental Science	Science and Technology	Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
Chemical Reactions Conservation of Energy	Biological Evolution Interdependence of Organisms	Energy in the Earth System Geochemical Cycle	Understanding about Science and Technology	Personal and Community Health Natural Resources Environmental Quality Natural and Human Induced Hazards Science and Technology in Local, National, and Global Challenges.

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Background Information

Resources:

Cunningham, William P. and Saigo, Barbara Woodworth, 1999, Environmental Science, WCB McGraw/Hill, USA.

National Geographic, May 1998, Unlocking the Climate Puzzle.

Kaufman, Donald G. and Franz, Celilia M., 1996, Biosphere 2000: Protecting our Global Environment, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., Debuque, IOWA

Scripps Institute of Oceanography, l997, International Experiment in Indian Ocean to Study Role of Pollutants in Climate Change, on line

Quayle, Robert G. and Thomas, R. Karl (Eds.), l996, ( NOAA) A Synopsis for Policymakers of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, on line

Godfrey, Catherine, l997, (NOAA) Decadal-to-Centennial Climate Change: What We Know-What We Don't, on line

UNEP, Information Unit on Climate Change (IUCC), l993, Oceans and the Carbon Cycle, on line

Barron, Eric J., l995, Eos Vol.76, No. 18, May 2, l995, pp. 185, l89-l90, American Geophysical Union, Global Change Researchers Assess Projections of Climate Change, on line

The Lancet, Vol. 351, October - December 1993, Health in Climate Change

Center for Disease Control, teacher's site "EXCITE" on line.

Extensions:

Case, Steve, l996, Leaf Stomata as Bioindicators of Global Climate Change, on line

Chem Week, Chemical of the Week- Carbon Dioxide, on line

Risley Middle School, Cycles: The Carbon Cycle, on line

Chem for Kids, A web site dedicated teaching the elements.

CO2 emission worksheet.

Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program in Environmental Science

lpt@www.woodrow.org
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

webmaster@woodrow.org
CN 5281, Princeton NJ 08543-5281

Tel:(609)452-7007

Fax:(609)452-0066