Carbon-Cycle Creative Story Assignment

Write a creative story about the journey of a carbon atom through Earth’s four major spheres—the atmosphere (air), the biosphere (living things), the hydrosphere (water), and the lithosphere (rock), and back again to wherever you started from.

(This assignment will be difficult if you haven’t first done the carbon-cycle-picture-drawing assignment!)

Remember that your carbon atom will change partners during its journey. Sometimes it will be partnered with oxygen atoms in the form of a carbon dioxide molecule. Sometimes it will be hooked to other atoms as part of a plant, or part of the body of an animal. Sometimes it will be bonded to other atoms in rocks such as limestone or in fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas. Your story should be creative, yet scientifically accurate.