The Adventures of Carbon

What is carbon and why is it so important? Designed for K-5 children and to be done at home or with small groups, this interactive multi-activity mini-course gives young children a foundation for understanding Earth’s carbon cycle, a topic that will be increasingly important over their lifetime. The mini-course includes a richly illustrated, story-based lesson as well as games, activities, and projects that appeal to all types of learners.

After a fun introduction to carbon through a story about the travels of Carbon Cal, a craft project using a landscape collage helps children reinforce their understanding of where carbon is found on our planet. This understanding is further reinforced through a movement-based game in which children can act out the different forms of carbon. Children then play a carbon cycle board game (included in the mini-course) to learn how carbon is exchanged between plants, animals, the earth, and the atmosphere. Finally, children perform a safe and easy set of experiments to understand how living things release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.

Most materials needed to complete the mini-course can be cut from the book itself (or, if preferred, downloaded and printed using an included link). The mini-course requires only a few common household items to complete the activities: scissors, glue, small objects for board game (rocks, figurines, etc.), one coin, three to five packets of active dry yeast, narrow-mouthed plastic or glass bottle, balloon, measuring cup (for pouring), warm water, kitchen thermometer, sugar, and salt.

Upon completing the mini-course, children will be provided with links to additional online resources and will earn new concept badges for their Science Tool Kit (included in the mini-course)-including carbon dioxide, photosynthesis, calcium carbonate, respiration, and bicarbonate.