Students may then derive the nitrogen cycle based on their collective experiences. It must constantly be recycled in a multi-step process that spans many different environments. Students should understand the importance of nitrogen and proteins in living organisms. Students go to one of the seven stations to begin their journey. Each should write the name of this station in his or her log.
Students reach into the container and randomly select one card.
Students read the direction on the card, record the information in their log, and return card to the container. Students move to the station that is now written in the log. Selected students could share their stories with the class in oral or poster form. Using the information generated in this activity, the class as a whole or small groups of students will share their particular nitrogen journeys to derive the entire nitrogen cycle. Once students have determined the nitrogen cycle, one organism can be eliminated from the cycle to see the effect on the cycle.