Key Concepts:1. How does matter move among the living and non-living?2. How are nutrients important to living systems?

Materials: Biology textbook by Prentice Hall, pencil and colored pencils or crayons

Introduction:“Energy is crucial to an ecosystem. But all organisms need more than energy to survive. They also need water, minerals and other life-sustaining compounds. In most organisms, more than 95 percent of the body is made up of just four elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. Although these four elements are common on Earth, organisms cannot use them unless the elements are in a chemical form that cells can take up.” (Prentice Hall Biology)

Jig Saw Set-Up:1. As a class, open up your textbook to 3-3, Cycles of Matter. Silently read the section titled “Recycling in

the Biosphere” found on page 74. 2. Now, your teacher will divide the class into HOME teams of 4.3. Next, your teacher will assign a letter to each person in the HOME group:

A. The Water Cycle Team B. The Carbon Cycle Team C. The Nitrogen Cycle Team D. The Phosphorus Cycle Team

4. All the A’s will meet at table #1.5. All the B’s will meet at table #2.6. All the C’s will meet at table #3.7. All the D’s will meet at table #4.

Jig Saw Directions:1. Each lettered team will be responsible for filling in the worksheet in this packet that corresponds to the

assigned cycle.2. The lettered team will have 10 minutes to meet. Tasks to be completed in this timeframe are as follows:

i. Read page(s) in book that correspond to your assigned cycle. Water Cycle – p. 75 Carbon Cycle – p. 76-77 Nitrogen Cycle – p. 78 Phosphorus Cycle – p. 79

ii. Study picture of cycle in book.iii. Fill in corresponding worksheet together as a team.

3. Once time is up, all students will go back to their original teams as designated by classroom rows. There should be an A, B, C and D represented for each team.

4. The students must teach their part to their team members. Each lettered team member will have 5 minutes to teach their part to their group.

5. Your teacher will keep you on track with a timer.6. By the end of the period, all Jig Saw worksheets should be completed.

Why is water so important to the biosphere? _______________________________________________________________________________________

Water moves between 3 areas of the biosphere: ________________, _______________, _______________

The main processes involved in the water cycle are: (place in order please)

1. _______________________ (from ocean)

2. _______________________ (from land)

3. _______________________ (from atmosphere)

4. _______________________ (from atmosphere)

5. _______________________ (from land)

6. _______________________ (from land)

7. _______________________ (from land)

What two ways can water ENTER the atmosphere? ___________________and ___________________

What is the major difference between these two processes?

___________________: _________________________________________________________

___________________: _________________________________________________________

What are the forms of precipitation the in which water returns to the Earth’s surface from the atmosphere? ________________, ________________. ________________. ________________

Through which plant structure do plants get their water from? __________________

How long does it take one water molecule to complete the entire cycle? _________________________

Summarize in your own words the water

cycle. Use the picture to your left.

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Carbon is known as a nutrient. What are nutrients? ____________________________________________

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Why does every living organism need nutrients? _______________________________________________

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Carbon is a key living ingredient of living tissue. Describe why the following two compounds are important:

Calcium Carbonate: _______________________________________________________________

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Carbon Dioxide: __________________________________________________________________

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Name the 4 main processes through which carbon is moved through the cycle and list examples for each:

1. _________________________________: ______________________________________________

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2. _________________________________: ______________________________________________

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3. _________________________________: ______________________________________________

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4. _________________________________: ______________________________________________

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What are the main sources of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere based on the picture below, explain:

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Why do organisms require nitrogen? _________________________________________________________

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What nitrogen gas makes up 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere? ___________________________________

Explain where are the nitrogen-containing substances such as ammonia (NH3), nitrate ions (NO3-), and

nitrite ions (NO2-) found? _________________________________________________________________

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Explain the process nitrogen fixation. ________________________________________________________

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What are the products of nitrogen fixation? ___________________________________________________

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Producers use the products to make protein. What is a producer? _________________________________

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How do consumers play a role in the nitrogen cycle? ____________________________________________

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Define decomposer. ______________________________________________________________________

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How do decomposers play a role in the nitrogen cycle? __________________________________________

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Explain the process of denitrification. ________________________________________________________

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Summarize in your own words the water cycle. Use the picture to your left. _________________________________________

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Why is phosphorous essential to living organisms? ________________________________________________

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Unlike carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, phosphorous does not enter the atmosphere. Where can you find

phosphorous? ______________________________________________________________________________

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What does the term inorganic phosphorous mean? _________________________________________________

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Explain how phosphate is released by rocks and sediments.__________________________________________

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Once phosphate is released into rivers and streams what happens? ____________________________________

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Explain in detail how phosphorous is cycled on land. _______________________________________________

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What does it mean to be organic? ______________________________________________________________

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How plants convert phosphate into organic compounds? ____________________________________________

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Explain how phosphorous cycles between the land and

water systems. Use the picture to your left.

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