Contextualization
Biogeochemical cycles are of utmost importance for the maintenance of life on Earth, involving the transformation and circulation of essential chemical elements between living organisms and the environment. These cycles ensure the balance and continuity of ecosystems by recycling nutrients. Understanding these cycles is fundamental to comprehend how life functions on the planet and how we can act to protect our environment. In this project, we will explore together the concept of biogeochemical cycles, their importance, and how environmental variables and human activities can impact these cycles.
Biogeochemical cycles can be divided into three major categories: the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorus cycle. These elements are essential for life, as they compose key molecules for living organisms, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Understanding these cycles provides the basis for understanding how essential elements move between living beings and the environment, enabling life as we know it.
However, human activities have caused significant alterations in these cycles. The burning of fossil fuels, intensive agriculture, deforestation, and other human habits are causing changes in the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles, with potentially drastic consequences for life on Earth. Understanding these alterations and their implications is essential to seek solutions on how to minimize our impact on the planet.
Practical Activity: 'Unraveling and Building Biogeochemical Cycles'
Project Objective
This project aims to lead students to understand the biogeochemical cycles (focusing on the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus cycles), their interactions with the environment, as well as the interferences that human activities cause in these cycles.
Project Description
Groups of 3 to 5 students should conduct a detailed research on the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus biogeochemical cycles. The intention is for them to represent these cycles using recyclable materials. Subsequently, they should prepare an oral presentation to explain the cycles and discuss human interferences and their consequences.
It is expected that the project will require more than 12 hours of work for each student, covering the fields of Biology and Chemistry.
The second part of the project consists of writing a detailed report on the study and practice carried out.
Necessary Materials
- Various recyclable materials (papers, boxes, bottles, caps, jars, etc.)
- Glue, scissors, adhesive tape
- Colored markers, colored pencils
- Bibliographical references for study
Step by Step
1. Study and Research
Each group should start by thoroughly studying the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus cycles. They must understand how each cycle works, which organisms are involved, and which relevant chemical processes take place.
2. Planning the Models
After understanding the cycles, students should plan how they will represent each cycle using recyclable materials. The plan should be drawn, and all group members should agree on it.
3. Building the Models
The groups will build the cycle models according to the planning done. Details such as the flow of elements and the points where human interferences occur should be observed.
4. Preparation of the Presentation
In addition to the model, the groups should prepare an oral presentation explaining each cycle, their importance for life on the planet, and how human activities are interfering with these cycles.
5. Presentation
Students should present their models and explain the cycles to the class. The group must be prepared to answer questions and participate in a discussion on the topics covered.
6. Writing the Report
Finally, each group should write a report detailing the entire research, planning, and model construction process, as well as reflecting on the learning obtained. The report should be divided into sections of Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used.
Project Delivery
The delivery of this project will be done in two parts:
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Presentation of the models and explanation of the cycles, with participation in the discussion.
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Submission of the written report. This report will be a key piece in the project evaluation, as it will contain the entire group's trajectory in the project execution, as well as the conclusions and learnings obtained. We will detail this part now:
Introduction: In this section, the groups must explain the importance of biogeochemical cycles, the reason for the study, and what the project objectives were.
Development: Here, the group must detail the entire research, planning, and model construction process. They should also explain how the presentations were and what the main challenges encountered were.
Conclusions: In this part, the groups must revisit the main points of the work, explain the learnings obtained, and the conclusions drawn about the project.
Bibliography: Finally, indicate the sources used in the research, which helped to compose the group's understanding of the biogeochemical cycles.
This project will allow students to develop various technical and socio-emotional skills, such as the ability to analyze biogeochemical cycles and their interferences, group collaboration, time management, and creativity.
