Survival for a year in a dome?

This Earthlearningidea is 'Space survival: how could we survive for a year in a dome?' Tell the pupils that they are to imagine that they will be sealed up for a year in a vast plastic dome, rather like a huge poly tunnel. Remind them that the composition of the modern atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% for the rest, including CO2 (0.03%) with variable amounts of water vapour. The dome is sealed so unless we do something, we shall all die inside; the oxygen content will decrease, CO2 will increase at a similar rate and the sides will steam up due to the water vapour that is breathed out. It is, therefore important to understand the water and carbon cycles. Copies of these could be given to the pupils. They will also need a copy of the nitrogen cycle.
Please send us your pupils' accounts and we will publish the best on the website.
Have you tried the other Earthlearningideas in this category 'Earth as a system'?