Congratulations!

We are pleased to offer you a position in the natural sciences division of our
Childrens Book department. As always we are under deadline so we need you to hop right on your
first project.
Your first assignment is to develop an illustrated childrens e-book for 4
th
-5
th
graders that explains
one of the biogeochemical cycles. You may choose to follow any one of the following elements
through an entire ecosystem (both biotic and abiotic components): carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or
phosphorus. Your book will be published on ____________________ and shared with science
teachers and students at Longfellow. Find below a guide and a few resources to get you underway.
Again, congratulations on your new job and good luck!
- Your Editor

Biogeochemical Cycle Storybook
(bio=life, geo = earth, cycles = loop)

Process
1. Choose a topic.
Use the background information on the next page to help you decide which element/cycle
you would like to investigate.
2. Research and Cite.
Conduct research and gather information from at least three reliable resources about your
topic (use the CARS checklist!) and generate APA or MLA citations from your sources.
These will be included in the appendix at the end of your book.
3. Develop a story for your book.
Write and edit a rough draft of your story. Use appropriate vocabulary from your
investigations, but make sure that your target audience can understand new words.
Be as creative as possible. A plain description and textbook images are well*snore
zzzzzzzz! Use characterization, a cool plot, age-appropriate humor and interesting layouts
while conveying information in an understandable way.
Think about creative, but effective ways you have learned science: Osmosis Jones, The
Lorax, even The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I have a bunch of kids science books to help you
with ideas and here are some digital links:
http://msnucleus.org/membership/storybooks/wetland2.html
http://msnucleus.org/membership/storybooks/belly.html
http://msnucleus.org/membership/storybooks/DrippyHippie.html
http://www.storyboardthat.com/
4. Storyboard your book.
Add your rough draft to a storyboard (digital, storyboardthat, Storyboards for iPad or a
google template). Be sure to include a title page, copyright page, dedication page and
appendix.
The body of your book should be at least 12 pages long with a 2-4 sentence paragraph on each
page and a graphic (not including background) at least every other page.
Add graphic ideas to your storyboard that enhance the theme of the story.
5. Create your book in StoryJumper or another approved platform using your storyboards.
Add graphics from the programs or from the web. Graphics from the web must be clearly
cited with credit and URL in your appendix.
Share your project with another student for peer review and EDIT!
HAVE FUN WITH THIS! If you have fun, so will your audience.
Background
Like energy, matter is neither created nor destroyed by natural means. However, unlike energy,
matter, is recycled within and between ecosystems. Elements pass from one organism to another,
through water and soil, and from one part of the biosphere to another through biogeochemical
cycles, which are closed loops powered by the flow of energy. Elements are continuously taken in
and accumulated by living organisms and released and recycled when organisms create waste or
die. You may be made up of the same atoms that were once in a volcano, in a dinosaur or in the tree
outside your house.
Carbon - All organisms are carbon-based life forms that need organic molecules for fuel and
building materials. How is carbon changed from inorganic to organic back again through
photosynthesis, cell respiration, decomposition and combustion?
Oxygen All life needs oxygen in the form gas or in the form of water. Oxygen is closely
connected to carbon as it too has roles in photosynthesis and cell respiration and the water cycle.
Nitrogen is needed by all organisms to build proteins and nucleic acids. If 79% of the
atomosphere is nitrogen, why do nearly all living things depend on bacteria, lightening,
volcanoes, and decomposition to get the nitrogen they need?
Phosphorus is also a necessary component of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. Most of the
phosphorus in the biosphere is stored in rocks and other sediments, so how would living things
that dont eat rocks obtain it?
Project Rubric
5 4 3 2 1

Overall Story
Very creative!
Great ideas!
I would read this
over and over.
It was original,
it was good, Id
buy it.
I may have read
something very
similar to this
story
beforeOR
I may have
dozed a little
This is very
familiar

or ZZZZZZ
I have definitely
read this exact
same story
Or
Where is the
story?


Clarity and
Content
Story was clearly
written and laid
out. The topic
was explained
well and with
excellent
examples.
Story was
clearly written
and laid out.
The topic was
explained
moderately and
with good
examples.
Story was
clearly written
and laid out.
The topic was
explained
minimally and
with decent
examples.
Story was
written. The
topic was
explained
minimally and
with few
relevant
examples.
I have no idea
what happened
in the story.


Support
materials
Support materials
were helpful and
well choosen for
grade 4-5
(pictures,
diagrams,
Support
materials were
mostly helpful
and well suited
to grade 4-5.
Support
materials were
not age-
appropriate or
not clear.
The topic was
difficult to
understand
given the
materials
presented.
I dont
understand how
the support
materials relate,
despite my
education!
explanation, etc.)

Mechanics
and
Grammar

At least 12 pages
in story, with
adequate text and
no grammatical
mistakes.
Few errors in
grammar or
only 11 pages.
More than a few
grammatical
mistakes or less
than 10 pages.
Many errors in
grammar and/or
fewer than 8
pages.
Sentences on the
rest of the pages
would help.


Layout and
graphics
Attractive,
engaging
presentation!
Graphics
accompanied story
and topic perfectly
without drawing
attention from
story.
Attractive and
graphics mostly
well selected to
enhance the
topic.
Graphics
seemed to go
with the story
somewhat, but
selection or
layout may
draw attention
from story.
Graphics look
nice but their
selection and/or
layout make no
sense.
Where are the
rest of the
graphics?

Resources
Dupain, M., & Maguire, L. (2005). Digital story book projects 101: How to create and implement
digital storytelling into your curriculum. 21st Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and
Learning. Retrieved from
http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/resource_library/proceedings/05_2012.pdf
Eckert. (n.d.) Cell Story Book Project Honors Biology. Retrieved from
http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/md/CellStorybookProject-LifeScience%5B2%5D3276.rtf
Ford,J. (2013). AP Biology Storybook Rubric. Retrieved from
http://fordshs.wikispaces.com/file/detail/AP%20Biology%20Story%20book%20rubric.docx
Gow, B. (2011). The Carbon Cycle My Life as a Carbon Atom. Retrieved July 25, 2014, from
http://technoscience.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/03/08/the-carbon-cycle-my-life-as-a-carbon-atom/.