The Nitrogen Cycle

Lab Brief #10

🎯 Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

⚡ The twist

Living things break the rules of non-living things — find the rule they break.

What you'll learn

Nitrogen is needed to build proteins, and the nitrogen cycle moves it between the air, soil, and living things. Special bacteria convert nitrogen gas from the air into forms that plants can absorb through their roots.

Key words

cell
The tiny building block that makes up all living things.
DNA
The tiny code inside living things that tells them how to grow.

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: what will happen to the plant if you change the water?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

soil
water

Get ready

⚠️ Safety first

Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards and keep the material away from your face.
Mop up spills straight away so nobody slips, and keep liquids away from sockets.
Check glassware for chips before use and carry it with both hands.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Build a model ecosystem in a jar using soil, small plants, and water. Seal it and observe how the water cycle works inside it for one week.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Question 1 of 3

What gas do plants release during photosynthesis?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

What part of a plant absorbs water from the soil?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What are the stages of a butterfly's life cycle in order?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🌳 Trees can talk to each other through underground fungus networks.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: Homeostasis and Internal Balance All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This is why plants grow toward windows and why scabs form.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Watch a plant or pet for 5 minutes today and write down what you noticed.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “Tell me something you noticed about your own body today.”

🌿Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Next Smart Experiment

Share this experiment

The Nitrogen Cycle

Done with science? Try something else

Your Cart (0)