The Nitrogen Cycle
Videos
Grades5, 6, 7, 8Chemistry, Biology
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Scholastic
What it is
- In this StudyJam from Scholastic, students will watch a 3.25-minute video about the nitrogen cycle, the important role of bacteria, how some plants help with this process, and then take a quiz to test their knowledge.
- Students will learn the basics of the nitrogen cycle, tracing nitrogen from the air into the soil, then to plants, animals, other bacteria, and back to the air.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The ending summary slide gives students a convenient overview of the information, to easily fill in any gaps they missed.
- With the video being so short and the quiz results being automatic, students can easily go back to the video to see what they missed.
Prerequisites
- Students might benefit from a graphic organizer or definitions list prior to watching the video.
- It may benefit students to have a basic understanding of bacteria.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To demonstrate their understanding, students can draw a diagram of the nitrogen cycle.
- To get students up and moving, teachers can have students act out different roles in the cycle. For example, some students can act as bacteria, plants, herbivores, and carnivores, and pass around an object representing nitrogen.
- Teachers can relate nitrogen to climate change solutions involving soil health, water pollution, and nitrous oxide (a very powerful greenhouse gas). This video or this may be helpful.
- Highlighting nitrogen's role as a limiting nutrient that affects water quality, plants, and climate change, teachers can make connections to UN Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land and Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation.
From the scientist review
This resource includes a video and a short quiz about the nitrogen cycle. Students will learn about the nitrogen cycle, its importance, and some basic facts related to each step of the cycle. The video also touches on how humans have impacted the cycle through climate change; however, it does not explicitly mention the phrase climate change which could result in some students missing the connection. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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