oceanservice.noaa.gov 38

Discover Your Changing World with NOAA

The element carbon is one of the most basic building blocks 

of life on earth. It is found almost 

everywhere—in plants, animals, 

pencils, diamonds, soil, and even soda 

pop. Carbon is able to easily bind with 

other atoms to form different chemical 

compounds; this is why carbon exists 

in so many forms. Carbon can dissolve 

in water, form chains of atoms to 

create sugars, and form solid materials 

like coal and limestone. Carbon in 

living things can be released through 

respiration, consumed as food, or 

transformed into fossil fuels over 

millions of years. In the atmosphere, 

carbon exists mainly as carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is called 

a greenhouse gas because it can trap some of the sun’s heat in 

the atmosphere. Without carbon dioxide’s natural ability to trap 

heat in the atmosphere, life as we know it could not exist. 

Carbon on Earth is found in the atmosphere, soil and rocks (the 

lithosphere), water (the hydrosphere), and in living organisms 

(the biosphere). The activities of living organisms, volcanoes, 

weather, and many other processes can cause carbon atoms to 

move from one place to another. This pattern of movement is 

called the carbon cycle.

Burning fossil fuels breaks the bonds that hold carbon atoms 

together inside those fuels, and carbon is released into the 

atmosphere. Scientists have found that the concentration of 

carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere has increased nearly 

35% since the beginning of the 

industrial revolution. Methane, another 

compound that contains carbon, has 

increased by 150%. Earth’s average 

global temperature has also increased 

by more than one degree Fahrenheit 

over this time period. This sounds like 

a small increase, but it is enough to 

cause major changes to earth’s climate 

and ecosystems. Most climate scientists 

agree that earth’s rising temperature 

is largely due to the increase in carbon 

dioxide and other greenhouse gases in 

the atmosphere resulting from burning 

fossil fuels. 

How It Works

This activity is a way to compare the carbon cycle before the 

industrial revolution with the carbon cycle after humans began 

burning large quantities of fossil fuels. This is a great way to 

communicate important ideas about climate science and the 

carbon cycle.

How to Do It

1. Read through all of these steps before you start! Make a copy 

of the Record on page 48 for each Player. Photocopy pages 

43 - 47 onto card stock for the cubes. Make the Game Cubes 

by cutting two pieces for each Cube from the photocopies 

of pages 43 – 47. Fold and assemble the pieces to form the 

Cubes as shown in Figure 1. Tape all of the edges where part A 

joins part B.

Big Idea

Human activities have changed the 

way that carbon is distributed in 

Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, 

hydrosphere, and biosphere.

What You Will Need

A large room or outdoor area where you 

can play the game

1 – Adult Partner

Several partners to play the game

Pony beads, regular (8/0) size, in blue, 

green, clear, and black colors; at 

least six of each color for each Player 

in the gam (search the Internet for 

“pony bead;” also available in some 

craft stores)

Signs for four game stations: 

Lithosphere, Atmosphere, 

Hydrosphere, and Biosphere

Four plastic bowls to hold the Pony 

beads for each station

White chenille craft sticks (pipe 

cleaners), about 12 inches long; two 

for each Player

Five paper Game Cubes made from 

patterns at the end of this Activity

Clear plastic tape

Scissors

Copies of “Incredible Carbon Journey 

Game Record,” one for each Player

Activity 10: The Incredible Carbon Journey

What You Will Do: Play the Carbon Journey Game

(Adapted from an activity by members of the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education [kaee.org])
39

A

B

A

B

A

B

Fold along

RED lines

Join A & B

Pieces and

Tape Edges

Human activities have changed the way that carbon is distributed in Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

10. The Incredible Carbon Journey

2. Each Player will begin at one station as chosen 

by the Player or Game Leader. There can be 

more than one Player at each station. The Game 

Leader places one of the cubes and one of the 

plastic containers at each station, then puts the 

green beads in the container at the Biosphere 

station, the blue beads in the container at the 

Hydrosphere station, the clear beads in the 

container at the Atmosphere station, and the 

black beads in the container at the Lithosphere 

station.

3. The Game Leader gives one pipe cleaner and 

one Game Record to each Player. Have the Player 

twist a knot or small loop onto one end of the 

pipe cleaner, and write the name of their starting 

station on the Game Record.

4. The Game Leader tells the Players they will 

represent carbon atoms in the carbon cycle. They 

will travel around the Earth following the journey 

of a carbon atom in the pre-industrial world – 

before we began burning lots of fossil fuels.

5. When the Game Leader says, “Go!” each Player 

places one bead from their station on the pipe 

cleaner.

6. Each Player rolls the cube at their station to find 

out where to go next. The Player then moves to 

the station shown on the cube, and records the 

name of the new station on the Game Record. If 

the cube says, “STAY”, the Player goes to the back 

of the line for that station and waits to roll the 

cube again. While they are waiting to roll the cube, 

they should take another bead from the station 

and put it on their pipe cleaner.

7. Each time the Player moves to another station, 

they do the same thing: Take a bead, roll the cube, 

and move to the next station (or go to the end of 

the line and repeat), and record the name of the 

next station on the Game Record.

8. Players move from station to station for at least 

10 minutes or long enough for Players to begin 

stacking up in the lithosphere line. This may take 

up to 15 minutes.

Figure 1. Make the Game Cubes

Fold along solid red lines, then bring the two pieces together 

as shown. Tape all edges where part A joins part B.
oceanservice.noaa.gov 40

Discover Your Changing World with NOAA

9. When most Players have visited the lithosphere 

several times, the Game Leader says, “Stop.” 

Wherever Players are in line, they should take a 

bead from that line without rolling the cube and 

then sit down. This is the end of round one.

10. Ask the Players what color beads they have on 

their pipe cleaner and what happened to them 

during their trip. Did they see any patterns? For 

instance did they stay at any place more than 

once? Did anyone go back and forth between 

two stations (for example, biosphere and 

atmosphere)? What may explain this? Instruct 

Players to make a bracelet out of their pipe 

cleaner by twisting the end through the loop on 

the other end.

Game Leader Tip:

After round one, many Players will have a high 

portion of black beads on their pipe cleaners. 

This represents coal, natural gas, oil—all carbon 

molecules in the lithosphere. Deposits of carbon 

have accumulated over time from the remains of 

plants and animals. Over millions of years, these 

deposits have become transformed into fossil 

fuels.

11. The Game Leader exchanges the Pre-industrial 

Lithosphere (L1) cube for the Post-Industrial 

Lithosphere cube (L2).

12. The Game Leader gives each Player a new pipe 

cleaner, and says that they are moving into the 

Industrial Age. This is the beginning of Round 

2. Players should twist a loop into the end of the 

pipe cleaner before proceeding.

13. Have Players pick a station at which to begin 

their journey.

14. Again, Players pick up a bead from their station 

and roll the cube. They will move from station 

to station again for at least 10 minutes or long 

enough for Players to begin stacking up in the 

atmosphere line. This may take up to 15 minutes. 

Each time the Players change stations, they should 

record the name of the station on the Game 

Record.

15. When most Players have visited the atmosphere 

several times, stop round 2. Wherever Players are 

in line, they should take a bead from that line 

without rolling the cube and then sit down. 

Ask the Players what kinds of beads they have on 

their pipe cleaner and what happened to them 

in their trip/journey. How did this second round 

compare with their first journey through the 

carbon cycle? Did anyone find himself or herself 

“stuck” in one place? What may explain this?

Game Leader Tip:

Although the amount of carbon in the atmosphere 

has increased significantly over the last 150 years, it’s 

important to emphasize that the amount of carbon 

on the earth has not changed. Carbon has simply 

moved from one place to another.

Although you cannot predict exactly what 

combinations of beads the Players will put on their 

pipe cleaners, you can be fairly certain that after the 

second round, more of the beads will be from the 

atmosphere. This represents the build-up of carbon 

dioxide in the atmosphere that is a direct result of 

the burning of fossil fuels.

If lines at a station get really long, this activity works 

best if Players take their beads before they arrive at 

the cube. If you have volunteers, station them along 

the longest lines of Players and have them distribute 

the beads while the Players wait their turn to roll the 

cube. It may also help to have two cubes for each 

station to minimize the wait time.

Want To Do More?

Players may create a storyboard, poster, or cartoon 

about their journeys through the carbon cycle.

Players may research and record the processes 

involved in getting them from one place to the next 

in the carbon cycle. Did they notice any patterns 

in the beads on the pipe cleaners? For example, 

an alternating green-clear bead pattern could 

represent the cycling of carbon between plants and 

the atmosphere.

Players may graph the numbers of visits for each 

of the four spheres in the pre-industrial and postindustrial cycles, and create a master graph that 

incorporates the data from everyone’s journeys in 

the pre-industrial and postindustrial cycles.

For an animated description of the carbon cycle, go 

to http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/basics/today/

carbon-dioxide.html.

For more information, contact Roberta 

M. Burnes (Roberta.Burnes@ky.gov), 

Environmental Education Specialist, Kentucky 

Division for Air Quality, Frankfort, KY
41 Human activities have changed the way that carbon is distributed in Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

10. The Incredible Carbon Journey

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

STAY STAY

STAY STAY

Carbon is absorbed

by oceans and other bodies of

water.

Carbon is absorbed

by oceans and other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains in

the atmosphere.

Carbon remains in

the atmosphere.

STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the atmosphere.

Carbon remains in

the atmosphere.

Go to

Hydrosphere

Go to

Hydrosphere

Carbon is absorbed

by oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon is absorbed

by oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Go to

Hydrosphere

Go to

Hydrosphere

Carbon is

absorbed by plants during photosynthesis

Go to

Biosphere

Go to

Biosphere

Go to

Biosphere

Go to

Biosphere

Carbon is

absorbed by

plants during

photosynthesis

Atmosphere Atmosphere Atmosphere

Atmosphere

AtmosphereAtmosphere

Cut along dotted lines

Atmosphere cube 
oceanservice.noaa.gov 42

Discover Your Changing World with NOAA

Go to

Lithosphere

Go to

Lithosphere

Carbon enters the

soil when plants and animals die.

Carbon enters the

soil when plants and animals die.

Biosphere Biosphere

Go to

Lithosphere

Go to

Lithosphere

Carbon enters the

soil when plants and animals die.

Carbon enters the

soil when plants and animals die. Biosphere Biosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere Fire releases carbon dioxide Fire releases carbon dioxide

Fire releases

carbon dioxide

Fire releases

carbon dioxide Go to Atmosphere Go to Atmosphere

Fire releases

carbon dioxide

Fire releases

carbon dioxide

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Biosphere Biosphere Biosphere Biosphere Biosphere Biosphere Carbon is used by plants and animals and remains in the cells. STAY STAY Biosphere Biosphere

Cut along dotted lines

Biosphere cube 
43 Human activities have changed the way that carbon is distributed in Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

10. The Incredible Carbon Journey

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

STAY STAY

Go to

Lithosphere

Go to

Lithosphere

Carbon precipitates

as sediment and

settles to the bottom

of the ocean.

Carbon precipitates

as sediment and

settles to the bottom

of the ocean.

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere Carbon remains in oceans and other bodies of water. Carbon remains in oceans and other bodies of water.

Carbon is released

into the atmosphere from the

ocean & other

bodies of water.

Carbon is released

into the atmosphere from the

ocean & other

bodies of water. STAY STAY

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

Carbon remains

in oceans and

other bodies of

water.

STAY STAY

Carbon is absorbed

by marine plants during photosynthesis

Go to

Biosphere

Go to

Biosphere

Hydrosphere HydrosphereHydrosphere Hydrosphere

Hydrosphere Hydrosphere Hydrosphere Hydrosphere Hydrosphere Hydrosphere

Hydrosphere Hydrosphere

Cut along dotted lines

Hydrosphere cube 
oceanservice.noaa.gov 44

Discover Your Changing World with NOAA

STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Decomposition, soil

microbes, & volcanic

eruptions release

carbon dioxide.

Decomposition, soil

microbes, & volcanic

eruptions release

carbon dioxide.

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Pre-Industrial Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere Lithosphere

STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Pre-Industrial Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere Lithosphere

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

Pre-Industrial

Lithosphere

Cut along dotted lines

Pre-industrial Lithosphere cube 1
45

10. The Incredible Carbon Journey

Human activities have changed the way that carbon is distributed in Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

STAY STAY

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Carbon remains in

the soil as organic matter and in

sediments containing fossil fuels.

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Go to

Atmosphere

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide

Burning fossil

fuels releases

carbon dioxide

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Post-Industrial

Lithosphere

Cut along dotted lines

Post-industrial Lithosphere cube 2
oceanservice.noaa.gov 46

Discover Your Changing World with NOAA

Round 1

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

Round 2

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

Record your journey through the carbon cycle on 

this page. Beginning at one end of your pipe cleaner, 

write the “sphere” you visited for each bead on the 

pipe cleaner.

Incredible Carbon Journey Game Record

Green beads = Biosphere

Blue beads = Hydrosphere

Clear beads = Atmosphere

Black beads = Lithosphere