+
Interactive
Scholastic

Study Jams! Lithosphere, Hydrosphere & Atmosphere

For Students 4th - 8th
Three of Earth's spheres are introduced to your earth scientists: lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Each are described with text, while a combination of photographs and computer images are displayed. One of the best ways to use...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Is everything really connected? Take your class on a walk outside, where they will make observations and write them down on a worksheet. Once they are back in the classroom, learners will work to determine if and how things like birds,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biosphere

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the basic biosphere and its components.  In this ecology lesson students complete several experiments including designing a system that is balanced to sustain life.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biosphere Socratic Questions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the origin of life on Earth and its evolution through geologic time by participating in a whole class discussion. They respond to prompts that lead them to conclusions about the interactions among the biosphere and the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Change of a River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe the changes that have affected the Missouri River over the past 200 years by identifying transformations in this area's atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. They research online in groups assigned to...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water in the Geosphere

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Through a PowerPoint presentation and the embedded animation and video, earth science enthusiasts find out about the moisture in the soil beneath our feet. In the animation, follow a water molecule on its path through the water cycle. As...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gallery Walk Questions on Earth's Radiation Balance

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Questions that can be used in a instructional activity on Earth's radiation balance are suggested in this resource. It is not a lesson plan, per se, but it is a list of questions for stations within a "Gallery Walk" instructional...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this Earth worksheet, students investigate the interactions between the four major parts of the earth-the atmosphere, the geosphere, the biosphere and the hydrosphere. Students discuss their findings as a class.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: Understanding Change

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students predict changes that will occur in the environemt after trees are cut down around a house. They focus on changes in the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. By examining the rings in a tree's trunk, they...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Change of a River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore changes in the Missouri River. In this Missouri River lesson, students discover that changes in the atmosphere cause changes in the river. Students search the Internet for information about the Missouri River and its...
+
Lesson Plan
Maine Math & Science Alliance

Earth as a System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Ecosystem, human body system, weather system. We hear the word system a lot, but what does it really mean? In the activity, pairs or groups of learners discuss how a bicycle is a system and then analyze objects in their classroom and...
+
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Carbon Cycle Poster

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Humans can have a big impact on the environment, specifically the influence they have on the carbon cycle. First, the class will define and discuss each of the earths four major spheres, the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and...
+
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

What is Up Th-air? — Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th Standards
Air, air, everywhere, but what's in it, and what makes Earth's air so unique and special? Journey through the layers above us to uncover our atmosphere's composition and how it works to make life possible below. Pupils conduct research...
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

The World's Spheres Vocabulary

For Students 8th - 10th
In this world's spheres worksheet, students are given nine spheres and they match the given definitions of the sphere with the term.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alaska's Physical Systems and History

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read about Alaska's physical systems and determine how Alaska's physical makeup has impacted its history. They create timelines of their particular physical system.
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
NOAA

The Biogeochemical Cycle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The biogeochemical cycle ... no physics? The fourth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program introduces the biogeochemical cycle by having pupils simulate movement between Earth's...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Science 4 Inquiry

Journey Through the Spheres of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Each of the Earth's spheres interacts with the other spheres in predictable ways. Young scientists explore these interactions through a hands-on activity, graphing, and watching a video. They summarize their knowledge in a video or...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rainforest Community

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create a miniature rainforest ecosystem, a terrarium. Students then explain how the continuous flow of energy and food in the ecosystem allows it to sustain itself.
+
PPT
Mr. E. Science

Introduction to Earth Science

For Students 6th - 8th
From the layers of Earth's spheres to latitude and longitude to looking at topographic maps, learners discover the elements of Earth's systems. 
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Listening Guide for Changes in the Spheres Presentation

For Students 8th - 10th
In this changes in the spheres activity, students take notes on the impacts that acid rain, nuclear accidents, flooding, forest fires, contrails discovery, oil spills, meteorite collisions and volcanic eruptions have on the atmosphere,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Yellowstone Fires

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students assume the role of environmental biologists and help several government agencies resolve the debate surrounding "let it burn" policies in national parks.
+
Lesson Plan
Forest Foundation

Forests, Carbon & Our Climate

For Teachers 4th - 6th
To conclude their examination of forest ecosystems, class members consider the role forests play in the carbon cycle and how forests can offset climate change.
+
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Carbon Cycle Role Play

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Anytime you make concepts clear with role playing or hands-on experience, it's a win for the whole class. Ping-Pong balls are used to represent carbon in a carbon cycle role-play activity. In small groups, children first discuss what...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Your class sets up a mini water cycle model to examine the process. Then they watch an animation, following a water molecule through the cycle. A well-developed lab sheet guides learners through the instructional activity and a...