The Adventures of Carbon
Be Naturally Curious
Paperback
(Be Naturally Curious, Jan. 16, 2015)
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.