Dinosaur Breath
Through discussion and hands-on experimentation, students learn about the geological (ancient) carbon cycle. They investigate the role of dinosaurs in the carbon cycle and the eventual storage of carbon in the form of chalk. Students discover how the carbon cycle has been occurring for millions of years and is necessary for life on Earth. Finally, they may extend their knowledge to the concept of global warming and how engineers are working to understand the carbon cycle and reduce harmful CO2 emissions.
Students investigate dinosaurs and their role in the carbon cycleCopyright FabSubeject. Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dinosaur_Park_Ghandhinagar.jpg
Fossil fuels have enabled humans to achieve rapid industrial development, especially over the past 100 years. Millions of years ago, carbon-containing vegetation and animals (including dinosaurs) decayed at the bottom of ancient swamps and oceans, eventually forming fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. When we burn fossil fuels today to produce electricity, we are re-releasing the carbon (as carbon dioxide or CO2) contained in these ancient fuels. Today, people are concerned about the rising CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere due to the dangers of global warming. Engineers and scientists are working to reduce the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Define carbon as a necessary component of the Earth that supports all forms of life.
- Describe how it is possible that the carbon contained in chalk could possibly have originated from the respiration of a dinosaur living during the Jurassic Period.
- Explain why engineers are working to understand and rebalance the carbon cycle.