Organic matter

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/organic-matter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary origin?Decomposition of dead organisms (plants, animals) and their waste products
2. What is the key structural components?Cellulose, lignin, tannin, cutin, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates
3. Where does organic matter come from?Most of it comes from dead plants and animals breaking down. Some can also form through natural chemical reactions.
4. Why is organic matter important for soil?It makes soil fluffy, holds water, and gives plants the nutrients they need to grow.

Biogeochemical cycles: The pathways by which chemical elements are exchanged among the biotic and abiotic components of Earth.
Carbon sequestration: The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduce its presence in the atmosphere.
Recalcitrant compounds: Organic molecules that are resistant to decomposition due to their complex chemical structure.