Describing the Carbon Cycle Activities for Middle School Science

Understanding the carbon cycle is crucial for middle school students, but it can be a complex topic to grasp! These engaging materials provide everything needed to help students explore how carbon moves through Earth's systems and its role as an energy source in ecosystems. With interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and assessments, students will develop a solid understanding of photosynthesis, decomposition, and the impact of human activities on the carbon cycle. The resources below will give students a comprehensive understanding of and ability to describe the carbon cycle. All of the following materials are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Kesler Science Carbon Cycle Unit is an engaging middle school lesson on how carbon moves through the environment and its role as an energy source in ecosystems. It includes editable PowerPoints, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects, all designed for differentiated, student-led learning with minimal prep.

Following the 5E Model, the unit provides engagement activities, a hands-on exploration station lab, editable PowerPoints, and interactive notebooks in English and Spanish. Students apply their learning through choice projects and STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments, with flexible digital and printable formats to fit any classroom. Multimodal learning strategies and Spanish translations support all learners.

Aligned with the 2021 TEKS 8.11C standard, this lesson is ideal for in-class or virtual learning. Bundle options offer savings on multiple topics or the complete curriculum, making it a comprehensive resource for teaching the carbon cycle and its impact on ecosystems in middle school science.

Engage your middle school students with this student-led station lab aligned with the 2021 TEKS 8.11C. Designed for in-class or virtual learning, this lab helps students explore the carbon cycle and how carbon moves through Earth's systems through nine interactive stations featuring videos, readings, research, and hands-on tasks.

Students apply their knowledge by organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and completing assessments. A bonus challenge station extends learning with engaging activities, and English and Spanish reading passages support differentiated instruction.

This low-prep, high-engagement resource fosters active learning and critical thinking. Also available in the Ecosystems Station Lab Bundle, which includes 16 labs.

The Describing the Carbon Cycle Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS 8.11C standard, giving middle school students the opportunity to select a project that best fits their learning preferences. A project page outlines six student-driven options plus a “design your own” project, with an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment. This resource is also part of the Describing the Carbon Cycle Complete Lesson for TEKS 8.11C.

These versatile, multimodal projects encourage creativity and deeper understanding, while allowing teachers to modify the rubric to align with their grading criteria. The flexible structure helps students showcase their knowledge in ways that work best for them.

Projects use standard classroom materials such as paper, markers, and scissors, with numerous opportunities for digital project completion. Also available in the Ecosystems Bundle (16 topics for grades 6-8) and the MEGA Student Choice Project Bundle (84 topics) for grades 6-8.

Year-Round Resources

These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Visual Data & Graphing

You're not alone if your students struggle with understanding graphs, charts, and tables. It's a skill that takes an enormous amount of practice. This resource will help students build a strong foundation in analyzing data and creating their own data visualizations.

Learn More

Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups

These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.

Learn More

Review Board Games

Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.

Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.

Learn More

Essential Questions and Standards

Below are the essential questions and standards associated with the lessons and activities included in the atoms unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions

What is the carbon cycle?
How does carbon move throughout our planet?

Standards

TEKS Science - 8.11C Describing the Carbon Cycle