Carbon cycling, fluxes, sinks, and feedbacks are the focus of this Grade 10 Science worksheet on Earth and Human Activity, with an emphasis on how carbon moves through Earth systems and how human activities can alter those flows. Students examine carbon movement among the atmosphere, biosphere, ocean, and lithosphere while connecting carbon storage and transfer to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Build Carbon-Cycle Reasoning

Students work with a reading passage that introduces carbon fluxes, carbon sinks, long-term carbon storage, ocean uptake, fossil fuel use, land-use change, and permafrost thaw. The content connects carbon dioxide uptake by plants with photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition, ocean storage, carbonic acid formation, sediment and rock reservoirs, and the movement of carbon from the lithosphere to the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned.

The worksheet also develops reasoning about carbon-cycle feedbacks. Students examine how warming can increase permafrost carbon release, which can add atmospheric carbon dioxide and contribute to further warming. They also consider how models can represent these interactions and help scientists examine changes in atmospheric composition and carbon storage.

Student Practice

Students apply the concepts through multiple-choice questions, true-or-false statements, short-answer responses, a labeled diagram, a categorizing activity, and a short note task. Questions ask students to identify processes that move carbon, distinguish sources and sinks, explain ocean uptake and acidification, connect fossil fuel combustion with atmospheric carbon dioxide, and explain feedback involving permafrost.

Ready for Classroom Use

• Student worksheet focused on carbon cycling and Earth and Human Activity
• Separate PDF answer key for checking student responses
• Student Notes lines at the bottom of the worksheet
• Teacher Guide included in the Answer Key PDF
• Teacher Guide includes Learning Objectives, Teaching Tips, Discussion Questions, and Common Mistakes

This resource can support classroom instruction, independent practice, review, or discussion around the carbon cycle and human impacts on atmospheric carbon dioxide. Its combination of reading, selected-response, written-response, diagram, and categorizing tasks gives students multiple ways to work with the same core scientific relationships while keeping the focus on carbon movement, storage, and feedbacks.