1. The Story of Phosphorus Cycling Through the Environment Read the story together and then answer the questions.

2. Buffalo lived on the grasslands of East Africa for many years. One day he died of old age. He fell to his knees, then rolled heavily onto the ground. The little white cattle egrets fluttered away to look for insects where it was safer.

3. Hyena arrived and ate some Buffalo meat. Some of Buffalo's blood soaked into the soil, and some blood dried into the air. Buffalo Soil Phosphorus

4. There were many kinds of atoms in Buffalo's blood. One kind was Phosphorus, something all beings need to stay alive. Elephant Grass absorbs an atom of Buffalo's phosphorus through its roots. The atom is used by Elephant Grass to make part of Grassblade. BuffaloSoil Phosphorus Grass

5. Then Grasshopper hops over and eats that part of Grassblade. BuffaloSoil Phosphorus Grass Phosphorus Grasshopper

6. The atom of phosphorus is still in Grasshopper's stomach when Baby Baboon and Mama Baboon wander over, looking for something to munch on. Baby Baboon sees Grasshopper's bright colors and grabs him off Grassblade and pops Grasshopper in his mouth and munches him. Baby smiles and looks at his clever hand. BuffaloSoil Phosphorus Grass Phosphorus Grasshopper Baboon

7. That night, while Baby Baboon is digesting Grasshopper, the atom of phosphorus travels into his bloodstream and travels all around his sleeping body. By sunrise, the phosphorus has been seized by a bone marrow cell to rebuild part of its DNA, the library of instructions inside every living cell.

8. Where might the phosphorus go after baby baboon dies? List at least two possibilities.

9. How is phosphorus useful to the human body?

10. Challenge Question: Research phosphorus, what products use phosphorus in your daily lives?