Grade 6: Tracking a Carbon Atom’s Journey
Grade 6 scientists recently shared their “carbon cycle journey” stories, illustrated books that followed a single carbon atom as it moved through different parts of Earth’s system. Working in small groups, students presented their books to classmates, explaining each stage of their atom’s path and how it connected to what they are learning about matter and energy in science.
In their stories, carbon atoms traveled through real-world processes such as living in the body of an animal, being released into the atmosphere through respiration, dissolving into the ocean, forming sedimentary rock, or re-entering the air through combustion. Each book included an introduction, a series of labeled stages, and a conclusion, as well as a works cited page to support accurate scientific storytelling.
This project is part of a larger progression in sixth-grade science, building the understanding students will need later in the year when they study how energy is stored in food and how it moves through ecosystems. It also supports their grade-level service learning theme, which explores poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity, helping students make deeper connections between science concepts, food systems, and the various challenges communities face.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
