How would I explain the carbon cycle to a 1st grade classroom?

To a 1st Grader:  

Carbon is the magic element that is the basis of life on Earth. All living things contain carbon. Animals breathe it out, and plants breathe it in. Plants, people and animals depend on each other.

The carbon cycle is a process where carbon dioxide travels from the atmosphere into living organisms and the Earth, then back into the atmosphere. Plants take carbon dioxide from the air along with water and photosynthesis from the sun and use it to make food.

Explanation:

The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. Carbon is the main component of biological compounds as well as a major component of many minerals such as limestone.  To a first grader is different because they wouldn't understand what half of these words mean lol.

in addition to spreading humanist ideas, erasmus has contributed to criticism of corruption in the church.