Teachers Instruction

Biogeochemical
Cycles
Foldable

Page

This graphic organizer is used to demonstrate

cycles showing the movement of a particular
chemical through the biological and geological
parts of an ecosystem.
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Teachers Instruction
Objectives
1. The student will be able to label diagrams to understand the water cycle, oxygen cycle, carbon cycle,
nitrogen cycle, and phosphorus cycle.
2. The student will incorporate the process of photosynthesis and respiration into the steps of the
cycles.
3. The student will understand the chemical changes that take place within the cycle.

Materials
Copied sheets from this resource pages 5-10 for the student
Scissors

Directions
1. Copy sheet page 5 and then copy page 6 on the back of page 5 upside
down; copy sheet page 7 and then copy page 8 on the back of page 7 upside
down; copy sheet page 9 and then copy page 10 on the back of page 9
upside down.
Answer key: copy sheet page 11 and then copy page 12 on the back of page
11 upside down; copy sheet 13 and then copy page 14 on the back of page
13 upside down; copy sheet 15 and then copy page 16 on the back of page
15 upside down.
2. Each sheet will be folded as a hamburger fold. Page 5 will be on the
outside with page 6 on the inside; page 7 will be on the outside with page 8
on the inside; page 10 will be on the outside with page 9 on the inside.
Answer key: page 11 will be on the outside with page 12 on the inside; page
13 will be on the outside while page 14 will be on the inside; page 16 will be
on the outside with page 15 on the inside.

Page

3. Mark the outside fold one inch (about 3 cm) from the outer edges on all
sheets.

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Teachers Instruction
4. Keeping the sheet folded, take page 5 and cut the outer edges to the
marked spot on both sides. You are cutting off the fold (maybe about 2
mm). Caution students not to take too much off or they will cut into the
information.

The sheet is open so that you can see how much was cut off.

5. On the other two sheets, keeping them folded as well, start at one of
the marked spots and cut the fold between the two marks. Again, you are
just cutting off the fold (maybe about 2mm). Make sure students dont cut
too much and cut into the information.

These sheets are open so that you can see how much was cut off. The
outside inch is left on both sides.

Page

6. Lay the two folded sheets out flat from #5. Place the oxygen cycle sheet
on the bottom and the carbon cycle sheet on top of it.

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Teachers Instruction
7. Fold the sheet from #4 into a burrito fold.

8. Place the burrito through the cut in the other two sheets.

9. Open the burrito.

Inserted page is now flat.

Page

10. Fold the sheets in half and it will form a book.

This book can be used as a note taking tool, as an assignment, as a study guide. Answer key is provided
on pages 11-16 and can be put together following the same instructions (I have given the directions in
red for steps 1 and 2 to put the pages together correctly).
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Student Activity
Nitrogen Cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.

atmosphere

78%

ammonia

proteins

denitrificating

nitrate

nitrogen-fixing

plants

animals

waste

plants

1. Our atmosphere is ___________ nitrogen gas.

2. Animals and plants cannot directly use all the nitrogen found in our _________________________.
3. Only special bacteria can directly use nitrogen in our atmosphere and fix it so other organisms can
benefit. These bacteria are called _______________________________ bacteria.
4. Higher organisms use nitrogen to make their ______________________.
5. Animal waste decay by the action of bacteria which create ______________________ and
___________________ products rich in nitrogen, and useful for plants to use again.
6. _________________________ bacteria in the soil can break down the ammonia into the gaseous
form of nitrogen, which is not available for use by plants or animals.
7. In another part of the cycle, animals eat _________________________ containing nitrogen, which is
again returned to the soil by animal ______________________ or decaying _____________________
and ___________________________.
8. Label the diagram of the NITROGEN

CYCLE.

Cycles through the

Ecosystem

Define biogeochemical cycle:

Page

The elements important to life that are

recycled are:
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Student Activity

Water Cycle
Answer the following questions.
1. The water cycle is also called the ___________________________________________________.
2. ___________________________________ is the process that turns water vapor into liquid, which
causes the formation of a cloud. 3. After it rains, the water can either end up on land or
_________________________________. 4. When water evaporates from a leaf, this process is called
__________________________. 5. When water is heated in an ocean, the liquid water changes form
and turns into _________________________________. 6. When water leaves a body of water after it is
heated, the process is called _________________________________. 7. When water falls from the sky,
the process is known as ___________________________________. 8. When water hits land and is
soaked into the ground, the water becomes _______________________________. 9. True or false: The
water cycle is a continual process. 10. True or false: Transpiration is a process that occurs on plants
and animals.
Label the diagram of the WATER

CYCLE.

Adding carbon to the atmosphere

faster than producers can remove it.

Cow eating grass

Page

Detritivores soil microbes,

earthworms, bacteria, fungi
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Animal wastes, dead plants, dead

animals
Coal, petroleum

Plants

Student Activity

Phosphorus cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.

pollution

basins

rocks

minerals

waste

DNA

overgrowth

plants

1. Phosphorus is NOT found in the free state in nature, but is contained mostly in __________________
and ______________________________.
2. It is an essential nutrient for life, as it makes up important chemicals such as ____________________.
3. In the phosphorus cycle, phosphorus moves between the soil and ____________________, which are
eaten by animals. The animals use phosphorus, and then their ___________________________
products help return the sulfur for the next generation of phosphorus in the soil.
4. Some of the phosphorus in soils can be washed away into water ___________________________.
5. Another source of phosphorus in water comes from man-made ____________________________.
6. Too much phosphorus in water leads to plant __________________________, strangling all other life
forms in the water.
7. Why is the use of too many phosphorus-rich fertilizers bad for the environment?
8. Label the diagram of the PHOSPHORUS

CYCLE.

Most available oxygen is made by ____________

on the oceans surface and green plants on the land via the process of
_____________.

Some oxygen is made in the atmosphere,

when _____________ breaks
down water.

The Oxygen Cycle

Page

the ocean
Most
oxygen
Science
Safari is stored in the _______
minerals of the Earths crust and mantle, called
the ______________, but is
bound to rocks and unavailable for use.
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Oxygen is used by animals, plants, bacteria, fire, decomposition, and

even rusting metal, called: _______________.

Student Activity

Carbon cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
coal

oil

natural gas

burning of fossil fuels

methane

photosynthesis

sugar

respiration

ocean

decayed

greenhouse

1. Plants use CO2 in the process of ________________________ to make _________________________

and oxygen.
2. Animals use oxygen in the process of ________________________ and make more CO2.
3. The ______________________ is the main regulator of CO2 in the atmosphere because CO2 dissolves
easily in it.
4. In the past, huge deposits of carbon were stored as dead plants and animals ____________________.
5. Today these deposits are burned as fossil fuels, which include ___________________________,
_________________________, and ____________________________.
6. More CO2 is released in the atmosphere today than in the past because of the___________________
___________________________.
7. Another natural source for CO2 is _______________________________.
8. Too much CO2 in the atmosphere may be responsible for the ________________________ effect.
9. Write the equation for photosynthesis.
10. Label the diagram for the CARBON

CYCLE.

Nitrogen fixing plant

i.e. clover, peas, etc

Root nodules containing

nitrogen fixing bacteria
denitrifying bacteria
Decomposition by bacteria and fungi

Page

nitrates absorbed

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bacteria

bacteria
(nitrifying bacteria)

Student Activity

Oxygen cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.

photosynthesis

ozone

waste

crust

oceans

respiration

1. Plants release 430-470 billion tons of oxygen during the process of ___________________________.
2. Atmospheric oxygen in the form of ____________________________ provides protection from
harmful ultraviolet rays.
3. Oxygen is found everywhere on Earth, from Earths _________________________ (rocks) to the
_____________________________ where it is dissolved.
4. Oxygen is vital for _____________________________ by animals, a process which produces CO2 and
water.
5. Oxygen is also necessary for the decomposition of ________________________ into other elements
necessary for life.
6. Write the equation for respiration.
7. Label the diagram for the OXYGEN

CYCLE.

Phosphate rocks
Phosphate mining
Fertilizer containing phosphate

Animal waste and decomposing

Page

Excretion and decomposition

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dissolved phosphorus
Phosphate rocks

Animals and algae

Marine sediments

Student Activity

Soak into ground

Page

10

Runoff

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Ground water flow

Answer Key
Nitrogen Cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.

atmosphere

78%

ammonia

proteins

denitrificating

nitrate

nitrogen-fixing

plants

animals

waste

plants

1. Our atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas.

2. Animals and plants cannot directly use all the nitrogen found in our atmosphere.
3. Only special bacteria can directly use nitrogen in our atmosphere and fix it so other organisms can
benefit. These bacteria are called nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
4. Higher organisms use nitrogen to make their proteins.
5. Animal waste decay by the action of bacteria which create ammonia and nitrate products rich in
nitrogen, and useful for plants to use again.
6. Denitrifying bacteria in the soil can break down the ammonia into the gaseous form of nitrogen,
which is not available for use by plants or animals.
7. In another part of the cycle, animals eat plants containing nitrogen, which is again returned to the
soil by animal waste or decaying plants and animals.
8. Label the diagram of the NITROGEN

CYCLE.

Cycles through the

Ecosystem

Define biogeochemical cycle:

11

The movement of a particular chemical through the

biological and geological, or living and nonliving, parts of
an ecosystem.

Page

The elements important to life that are

recycled are: H2O hydrologic; O2 oxygen; CScience Safari

carbon; N- nitrogen; P-Phosphorus.

Answer Key

Water Cycle
Answer the following questions.
1. The water cycle is also called the hydrologic cycle.
2. Condensation is the process that turns
water vapor into liquid, which causes the formation of a cloud. 3. After it rains, the water can either
end up on land or in a body of water, such as streams, lakes, and oceans. 4. When water
evaporates from a leaf, this process is called transpiration. 5. When water is heated in an ocean, the
liquid water changes form and turns into water vapor. 6. When water leaves a body of water after it
is heated, the process is called evaporation. 7. When water falls from the sky, the process is known as
precipitation. 8. When water hits land and is soaked into the ground, the water becomes ground
water. 9. True or false: The water cycle is a continual process. (water passes from atmosphere to
the Earth and back to the atmosphere) 10. True or false: Transpiration is a process that occurs on
plants and animals. (only occurs with plants evaporation of water off of the plant leaves)
Label the diagram of the WATER

CYCLE.

CO2 in atmosphere
Burning- emission
of CO2

Photosynthesis

Cellular Respiration

Adding carbon to the atmosphere

faster than producers can remove it.

12

Cow eating grass

Page

Detritivores soil microbes,

earthworms, bacteria, fungi
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Animal wastes, dead plants, dead

animals
Coal, petroleum

Plants

Answer Key

Phosphorus cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.

pollution

basins

rocks

minerals

waste

DNA

overgrowth

plants

1. Phosphorus is NOT found in the free state in nature, but is contained mostly in rocks and minerals.
2. It is an essential nutrient for life, as it makes up important chemicals such as DNA.
3. In the phosphorus cycle, phosphorus moves between the soil and plants, which are eaten by
animals. The animals use phosphorus, and then their waste products help return the sulfur for the
next generation of phosphorus in the soil.
4. Some of the phosphorus in soils can be washed away into water pollution.
5. Another source of phosphorus in water comes from man-made basins.
6. Too much phosphorus in water leads to plant overgrowth, strangling all other life forms in the water.
7. Why is the use of too many phosphorus-rich fertilizers bad for the environment? Agriculture runoff

goes into aquatic ecosystems which cause plants to grow and overpopulate the water.
(Eutrophication)
8. Label the diagram of the PHOSPHORUS

Most available oxygen is made by

CYCLE.

phytoplankton

on the oceans surface and green plants on the land via the process of

Some oxygen is made in the atmosphere,

when sunlight breaks down water.

photosynthesis.

The Oxygen Cycle

Page

13

the ocean
Most oxygen is stored in the oxide minerals
Safari crust and mantle, called the
ofScience
the Earths
lithosphere, but is bound to rocks and
unavailable for use.
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Oxygen is used by animals, plants, bacteria, fire, decomposition, and

even rusting metal, called: oxidation.

Answer Key

Carbon cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
coal

oil

natural gas

burning of fossil fuels

methane

photosynthesis

sugar

respiration

ocean

decayed

greenhouse

1. Plants use CO2 in the process of photosynthesis to make sugar and oxygen.
2. Animals use oxygen in the process of respiration and make more CO2.
3. The ocean is the main regulator of CO2 in the atmosphere because CO2 dissolves easily in it.
4. In the past, huge deposits of carbon were stored as dead plants and animals decayed.
5. Today these deposits are burned as fossil fuels, which include oil, natural gas, and coal.
6. More CO2 is released in the atmosphere today than in the past because of the burning of fossil
fuels.
7. Another natural source for CO2 is methane.
8. Too much CO2 in the atmosphere may be responsible for the greenhouse effect.
9. Write the equation for photosynthesis. 6CO2 + 6H2O
C6H12O6 + 6O2

Nitrogen in the air

Plant made protein

Animal protein

Nitrogen fixing plant

i.e. clover, peas, etc

Root nodules containing

nitrogen fixing bacteria

Dead plants and animals

Page

14

denitrifying bacteria
Decomposition by bacteria and fungi

nitrates absorbed

nitrates

ammonia

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bacteria

nitrites
(nitrifying bacteria)

bacteria

Answer Key

Oxygen cycle
Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.

photosynthesis

ozone

waste

crust

oceans

respiration

1. Plants release 430-470 billion tons of oxygen during the process of photosynthesis.
2. Atmospheric oxygen in the form of ozone provides protection from harmful ultraviolet rays.
3. Oxygen is found everywhere on Earth, from Earths crust (rocks) to the ocean where it is
dissolved.
4. Oxygen is vital for respiration by animals, a process which produces CO2 and water.
5. Oxygen is also necessary for the decomposition of waste into other elements necessary for life.
6. Write the equation for respiration. C6H12O6 + 6O2
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
7. Label the diagram for the OXYGEN

CYCLE.

Phosphate rocks
Phosphate mining

Erosion

15

Animals

Animal waste and decomposing

Soil phosphate

Plants

Page

Fertilizer containing phosphate

Excretion and decomposition

Crops
dissolved phosphorus
Phosphate rocks

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Decomposers

Animals and algae

Marine sediments

Answer Key

Condensation
Evaporation
Precipitation

Runoff

Soak into ground

Percolation

Page

16

Transpiration

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Ground water flow