Copy-of-Nitrogen-Cycle-Game.pdf(cttro)13

Nitrogen Cycle
Game
Based on “The Nitrogen Cycle Game” Lesson Plan written by
UCAR/NESTA
Link to Lesson

What is the Nitrogen Cycle?
Nitrogen is everywhere! It is in our bodies, our plants, and is even the most
abundant element in our atmosphere. The nitrogen cycle works by changing
nitrogen to different forms for different uses. Here are some processes involved in
the nitrogen cycle.
● Fixation: converts nitrogen in the air to ammonium, biologically available
● Nitrification: bacteria change ammonium to nitrates to be absorbed by plants
● Assimilation: plants absorb nitrates by the roots
● Ammonification: decomposers change nitrogen into ammonium to re-enter
the cycle
● Denitrification: nitrogen in the soil gets back into the air
Learn more here!

Game Overview
Students will explore the Nitrogen Cycle by modeling the movement of a nitrogen atom as it
passes through the cycle. Students will stop in the different reservoirs along the way, answering
questions about the processes that brought them to the different reservoirs.
As you move along the Nitrogen Cycle, you will document your journey in the Google Form (or
other format). See teacher for details.
By the end of the game you should be able to answer the following questions:
1. What are some of the processes that help move nitrogen through from one reservoir to
another?
2. What are some ways that humans can make an impact on the nitrogen cycle?

Game Instructions
1. Prepare your Student Sheet or Form to document your journey.
2. Roll number cube (or virtual die) to determine which center you will go to first.
3. Locate this icon on the Nitrogen Reservoirs Slide and click on the hyperlink. This
will take users to the first of two sequential slides that provide information that they
will document in their response sheet (Form or other).
4. Proceed to the next slide and click on the nitrogen reservoir that corresponds with
the number you rolled and complete the instructions on the slide.
a. It is important to record the process that brings you to the different reservoirs.
5. Click the “where to go” button to transport you to the next slide.
6. Roll the dice again and click the button that corresponds with the number you
rolled.

Nitrogen Reservoirs - Where Will You Go?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Image Credits: UCAR Center for Science Education

There is a store of nitrogen in the atmosphere in the form of diatomic gas, N2
.
There can be other forms of nitrogen in the atmosphere, like NO2
, a common air
pollutant. Most available nitrogen is stored in the atmosphere. Different processes
can change the form of nitrogen from gas to usable forms. Nitrogen fixation
changes N2
to ammonium, making it biologically available as NO3
.
Answer the following questions to move to the next station.
1. What form of nitrogen is good for the atmosphere?
2. What form of nitrogen is bad for the atmosphere?
3. What does nitrogen fixation do?
Atmosphere
WHERE TO GO

Here is a map of atmospheric NO2
, an air pollutant, in December of 2019. What
areas of the world have higher levels of NO2
? Why do you think this is?
Atmosphere
WHERE TO GO
Image from MND Earth System Data Explorer
Units: a thousand million
molecules per square cm

Roll number cube(or virtual die) again to determine your next destination. Find the
matching number below and click on the link to take you to your next destination!
1. If your die reads: 1 or 2 Lightning strikes! Nitrogen gas is made into a solid
and travels to the soil! This is nitrogen fixation by lightning. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: 3 Blue-green algae and bacteria change you into a solid,
bringing you to the soil! This is nitrogen fixation by bacteria. Click HERE.
3. If your die reads: 4 Bean plants extract you from the air and bring you to the
soil! This is nitrogen fixation. Click HERE.
4. If your die reads: 5 and 6 Some nitrogen can get into the water in clouds and
then fall as rain! This is condensation. Click HERE.
Atmosphere

Surface Water
Nitrogen is also found in surface water. This nitrogen can come from other
reservoirs, such as precipitation and organic material. Nitrogen in surface water
can move to the ocean through the process of runoff, the flow of water from the
surface to rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water. This runoff
takes the nitrogen in the surface water with it.
Answer the following questions to continue to the next station.
1. How can nitrogen get from surface water to the ocean?
2. What processes help get nitrogen to surface water?
3. Describe runoff.
WHERE TO GO

Surface Water
Roll the number cube (or virtual die) again to determine your next destination. Find
the matching number below and click on the link to take you to your next
destination!
1. If your die reads: 1 or 2 You are just the sort of nitrogen that plants need to
live. You are now within a live plant! This is assimilation. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: 3 or 4 You travel through the rivers and streams to the
ocean! This is runoff. Click HERE.
3. If your die reads: 5 or 6 You percolate deep underground in the groundwater!
This is leaching. Click HERE.

Rainwater
Nitrogen is also found in rainwater and other forms of precipitation. Nitrogen can
get into rainwater through gaseous reserves in the atmosphere and through the
process of denitrification, where extra nitrogen in the soil gets back into the
atmosphere. The precipitation can become surface water or groundwater upon
falling.
1. What does denitrification do?
2. Where can rainwater end up?
3. How can nitrogen get into rainwater?
WHERE TO GO

Rainwater
Roll the number cube (or virtual die) again to determine your next destination. Find the
1. If your die reads: 1 You fall into a lake or stream so now you are part of surface
water. This is from precipitation. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: 2 or 3 You fall on the land and become part of the soil! This is from
precipitation. Click HERE.
3. If your die reads: 4 You percolate deep underground in the groundwater! This is from
precipitation. Click HERE.
4. If your die reads: 5 or 6 You rain into the ocean! This is from precipitation. Click
HERE.

Groundwater
Nitrogen can be found in groundwater. Nitrogen in rainwater and surface water
can seep into the groundwater, forming another nitrogen reservoir. Most people in
the US get their drinking water from groundwater, so it is important to have
balanced levels of nitrogen here. Too much nitrogen in groundwater can spoil the
water source, often a result of fertilizer runoff.
1. How does nitrogen get into groundwater?
2. What is groundwater used for?
3. How can groundwater be contaminated?
WHERE TO GO

Groundwater
Below is a map of groundwater percentage in the US in December 2019. How
could changes in groundwater affect the nitrogen cycle?
WHERE TO GO
Units: Percentile values.
50% is average
groundwater for an area.

Groundwater
destination!
1. If your die reads: Odd numbers (1, 3, or 5) The groundwater you are
dissolved within travels and you become part of the surface water! This is
leaching. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: Even numbers (2, 4, or 6) The groundwater you are
dissolved within travels and you become part of the ocean! This is from runoff.
Click HERE.

Fertilizers
Nitrogen is in man-made fertilizers created to help plants grow. While this can be
helpful for getting a higher crop yield, runoff containing fertilizer can be toxic in
high amounts. Usually, nitrogen is found in fertilizers in the form of ammonium,
which makes it more easily usable by plants.
1. What do fertilizers do?
2. What form of nitrogen is usually in fertilizer?
3. What is one problem with having high amounts of nitrogen in fertilizer?
WHERE TO GO

Fertilizers
destination!
1. If your die reads: 1 or 2 You dissolve and wash into the surface water! This is
runoff. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: 3 or 4 You become part of the soil! This is leaching. Click
HERE.

Soils
Soil is a large reservoir for nitrogen. Bacteria in soil are important for nitrogen
fixation, making nitrogen usable for plants. Rainwater, groundwater, and surface
water have nitrogen that can seep into the soil. Nitrogen from the soil is necessary
for plants, and in turn animals, to survive.
1. Where does nitrogen fixation take place?
2. How can nitrogen get into the soil?
3. What is the purpose of nitrogen in soil?
WHERE TO GO

Soils
Below is a map of soil moisture in January 2019. How can higher or lower than
average soil moisture affect the nitrogen cycle?
WHERE TO GO
Image from MND Earth System Data Observer

Soils
Roll the number cube (or virtual die) again to determine your next destination. Find the
1. If your die reads: 1 You dissolve and wash into the groundwater! This is leaching.
Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: 2 You dissolve and wash into the surface water! This is leaching.
Click HERE.
3. If your die reads: 3 or 4 You are just the sort of nitrogen that plants need to live. You
are now within a live plant! This is assimilation. Click HERE.
4. If your die reads: 5 or 6 Bacteria have transformed you into nitrogen gas and you
are now part of the atmosphere! This is denitrification. Click HERE.

Live Plants
Since plants need nitrogen to survive, live plants are another reservoir where
nitrogen can be found. Plants that do not have enough nitrogen do not grow as
well as they should, but plants that have too much nitrogen are not strong and are
susceptible to disease. Plants can use the nitrogen that is created by humans
through production of fertilizers, use of fossil fuels, and other emissions.
1. What happens to plants if they do not get enough nitrogen?
2. What happens to plants if they get too much nitrogen?
3. How do humans produce nitrogen that can be used by plants?
WHERE TO GO

Live Plants
destination!
1. If your die reads: Odd numbers (1, 3, or 5) The plant that you are within has
died. Go to dead plants and animals. The process that takes you here is
death. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: Even numbers (2, 4, or 6) An animal has eaten the plant that
you are within! Go to live animals! The process that takes you here is
consumption. Click HERE.

Dead Plants and Animals
Since live plants and animals are reservoirs for nitrogen, so are dead plants and
animals. As plants and animals decompose, they release nitrogen back into the
soil, water, or atmosphere. This process can be sped up with the help of bacteria
and fungi responsible for decomposition.
1. Where does the nitrogen in dead plants and animals go?
2. What can help speed up decomposition?
3. Are plants and animals only nitrogen reservoirs after they die?
WHERE TO GO

Dead Plants and Animals
Roll the number cube (or virtual die)again to determine your next destination. Find the
1. If your die reads: 1 or 2 You are decomposed and become part of the soil! This is
decomposition. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: 3 You are decomposed and become dissolved in surface water!
This is decomposition. Click HERE.
3. If your die reads: 4 You are decomposed and become dissolved in the ocean! This is
decomposition. Click HERE.
4. If your die reads: 5 or 6 Forest Fire! The wood you were within is burnt and you have
been released into the atmosphere. This is combustion. Click HERE.

Animal Waste
Animal waste is rich in nitrogen. The waste decomposes and returns nutrients to
the soil, allowing it to be used by plants. Animal waste can also be used by
companies to create fertilizer or can be dissolved into surface water.
1. How can animal waste be used by humans?
2. Where can animal waste be found?
3. How can animal waste lead to plant growth?
WHERE TO GO

Animal Waste
Roll the number cube (or virtual die)again to determine your next destination. Find
destination!
1. If your die reads: 1 or 2 Look out before someone steps in you! Now you are
decomposing in the soil! This is decomposition. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: 3 or 4 A farm supply company has picked you up and made
you into fertilizer! This is mineralization. Click HERE.
3. If your die reads: 5 or 6 What’s that in the water? You have dissolved into
surface water! This is leaching. Click HERE.

Live Animals
Humans and animals also need nitrogen to survive. When animals eat plants rich
in nitrogen, they get proteins that they need to survive. We cannot get nitrogen
directly from the atmosphere, so plants are a good source for us. We as humans,
along with other animals are reservoirs for nitrogen. Live animals are also
responsible for creating animal waste and eventually decomposing as dead
animals.
Answer the following questions to move to the next station.,
1. How can animals and humans get nitrogen?
2. What do live animals produce that is another reservoir of nitrogen?
3. Why should we eat plants rich in nitrogen?
WHERE TO GO

Live Animals
destination!
1. If your die reads: Odd numbers (1, 3, or 5) The animal that you are within has
died. Go to dead plants and animals. The process that brings you here is
death. Click HERE.
2. If your die reads: Even numbers (2, 4, or 6) Congratulations! The animal that
you were within has excreted and you are in its waste. Go to animal waste!
This is excretion. Click HERE.

Ocean
The ocean is another source of nitrogen. Runoff from farm areas can lead
dissolved nitrogen from fertilizer or animal waste through streams to the ocean.
Water from the ocean can also be evaporated and return to the atmosphere, go
back to the land in the form of groundwater, or be used by plants, transporting
nitrogen to other reservoirs.
1. How can nitrogen get to the ocean?
2. How can nitrogen return to the atmosphere?
3. Can nitrogen travel back to land from the ocean?
WHERE TO GO

Ocean
Below is a map of sea level anomaly for January 2019. The areas in blue have
lower sea levels than normal, while those in orange and red have higher sea
levels than normal. What could this mean for the nitrogen cycle?
WHERE TO GO
Units: Meters above or
below the average sea level

Ocean
destination!
1. If your die reads: 1 Look out! Water is on the move! You have washed into the
groundwater! This is runoff. Click HERE.
3. If your die reads: 4, 5, or 6 Bacteria have transformed you into nitrogen gas
and you are now part of the atmosphere! This is denitrification. Click HERE.

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