Curated OER
The Nitrogen Cycle
Students design and create a compost pile in order to study the Nitrogen Cycle. They then use the scientific method to determine if plants grow better when they add organic matter from their compost pile to the plant's soil.
Curated OER
Soil Microbiology- Nitrogen cycle
Students take a virtual trip to a Catfish Aquaculture Pond and analyze soil bacteria to determine how many nitrogen cycle bacteria are present. They graph the number of colonies present and use data to determine ammonium levels in the soil.
Curated OER
Traveling Nitrogen
Students demonstrate and understanding of the nitrogen cycle by taking roles and interacting with others in a simulation activity.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria and Nitrogen Fertilizers
Plants need nitrogen to build proteins and nucleic acids to grow healthy stems and leaves. Though the Earth's atmosphere is made up of 79% nitrogen, the form of nitrogen found in the atmosphere cannot be used by plants. In this...
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Biochemistry: Nitrogen Cycle
Article explaining what the nitrogen cycle is, and its role in an ecosystem. (Published: June 28, 2010)
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Nitrogen
Information about the element, Nitrogen, atomic number 14. Covers common chemical transformations, its physical properties, atomic properties, how abundant it is on the Earth, and details about health-related regulations. Also discusses...
Other
University of Delaware: Chemosynthesis.
An explanation of how in the deep sea, where the sun's rays never reach, organisms make food from chemicals, a process called chemosynthesis.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: Nitrogen Cycle
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will be introduced to the nitrogen cycle.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Traveling Nitrogen
Students play the role of nitrogen atoms traveling through the nitrogen cycle to gain understanding of the varied pathways through the cycle and how nitrogen is relevant to living things.
Web Elements
Web Elements Periodic Table: Nitrogen
Lots of valuable information on nitrogen, its properties and some of its uses and compounds.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Earth Science: The Nitrogen Cycle: Of Microbes and Men
Instructional module focusing on the nitrogen cycle. Discussion includes the requirement of nitrogen by all organisms, the five processes in the nitrogen cycle, and how humans impact this cycle. The site also includes an interactive...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Civil Environmental: Ecology I: The Earth System
College-level online course highlighting the fundamentals of ecology. Course topics include coevolution of the biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere; photosynthesis and respiration; and the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles....
Other
The Learning Partnership: Journey to El Yunque
In this set of learning modules, students examine the impact of hurricane weather on the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico. They learn about hurricanes, producers, consumers, and the food chain, and how disruptions in organisms'...
University of Missouri
University of Missouri: The Nitrogen Cycle
This resource provides an explanation, accompanied by diagrams, of the nitrogen cycle, and also about how it can impact on water quality.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen, one of the most abundant elements in the universe, is essential to life. This interactive activity adapted from the University of Alberta provides an overview of the nitrogen cycle. Includes background reading handout and...
NOAA
Noaa: Estuaries 101 Curriculum: Nutrients in an Estuary
An overload of nutrients, called eutrophication (Greek for "good-nutrition"), can be harmful to estuaries. This phenomenon is also referred to as "over-enrichment," or "nutrient pollution". Students will investigate the range of...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: The Nitrogen Cycle Game
Learners play the role of nitrogen atoms traveling through the nitrogen cycle to gain understanding of the varied pathways through the cycle and the relevance of nitrogen to living things.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Climate Discovery Teacher's Guide: Investigating Climate Present
Lesson plans on the following: Carbon cycle: Carbon Dioxide Sources and Sinks, Nitrogen Cycle: Traveling Nitrogen, Ocean and Atmosphere: Make Convection Currents, Energy Cycle: Albedo
Michigan Reach Out
University of Michigan: Liquid Nitrogen Fun!
Lessons and science demos using liquid nitrogen.
Ohio State University
Ohio State University: Concepts of Plant Ecology
An advanced discussion of plant interactions and relationships. Energy flow, nutrient cycling and succession are discussed. Try the quiz to check your understanding.
Nature Research
Nature: The Nitrogen Cycle: Processes, Players, and Human Impact
Find out how nitrogen is cycled throughout the biosphere as it passes through the nitrogen cycle. Learn about the biotic and abiotic factors involved in the process as well as the implications of human activity on the nitrogen cycle.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Haber Process
Though it has increased food supply worldwide, the Haber process has taken an unforeseen toll on the environment. Daniel D. Dulek delves into the chemistry and consequences of this. [5:19]
BioMan Biology
Bio Man Biology: Ecology Quizzes
Three multiple-choice quizzes on topics and vocabulary in ecology.
Other
Marietta College: Ecosystems
Complete illustrated discussion of energy flow within ecosystems, including discussions of trophic levels, ecological pyramids, food chains and webs, biological magnification, and cycles.