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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Water Vapor Circulation on Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
This simulation from the National Center for Atmospheric Research portrays annual patterns in water vapor and precipitation across the globe, illustrating general circulation patterns as well as seasonal and regional variation. [4:52]
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Website
University of Iowa

University of Iowa: Small Comets

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides extensive information on the controversial theory that there are millions of small comets which continually burn up yearly in the earth's atmosphere.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Earth's Atmosphere

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart introduces the layers of Earth's atmosphere and the water cycle.
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Website
Other

Spacetech's Orrery: Earth Our Home Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a very interesting overview of our home planet, Earth. Content includes a focus on the atmosphere, the pull of gravity, and the active surface.
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Website
Globe

The Globe Program: Learning to Benefit the Environment

For Students 9th - 10th
The GLOBE program is a worldwide network of students and scientists working together to monitor Earth's atmosphere and water. There are lots of resources here, and you can email a student involved in the program to learn more about GLOBE.
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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Atmosphere

For Students 3rd - 5th
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the rock surface of the Earth, its water, and the gas layers that surround it.
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Civil Environmental: Ecology I: The Earth System

For Teachers 9th - 10th
College-level online course highlighting the fundamentals of ecology. Course topics include coevolution of the biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere; photosynthesis and respiration; and the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles....
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eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Flex Book Textbooks: Earth Science Concepts for Middle School

For Students 5th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] A complete, web-based, multi-media textbook covering a wide variety of Earth science concepts for middle grades.
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Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Composition of the Atmosphere Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for an earth science unit on the composition of the atmosphere. Review questions are included at the bottom of the study guide.
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Handout
University of Oregon

University of Oregon: Mars' Atmosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a comparison of the atmospheric composition of Earth, Venus and Mars.
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Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: The Water Cycle

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the movement of water from Earth's surface to the atmosphere with this site. Site describes the water cycle in words and with a diagram. Also explored on the page is the distribution of Earth's global water supply.
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Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Earth and Atmospheric Science

For Students 9th - 10th
There is evidence that the Earth's early atmosphere contained less oxygen but more carbon dioxide and water vapor than it does today. Increased emissions of greenhouse gases have led to climate change. Link to a test is included.
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PPT
Other

Interactions Between the Atmosphere & Hydrosphere [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of the interactions between the four spheres of Earth and how they affect weather and climate. The slideshow is divided into two parts. The first deals with interactions between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere and the...
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Handout
Indiana University

Indiana Univ.: Global Energy Transfer, Atmosphere and Ocean Circulation, Climate

For Students 9th - 10th
A course lecture on the external processes that shape the Earth, specifically the hydrologic system. This system is powered by the Sun's energy. The components of the Earth's energy budget are described, and how these drive the movement...
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Unit Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Essentials of Weather

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on the basic elements of climate and weather. Inquiry-based exploration of extreme weather events and the factors of weather including clouds, wind, air pressure, temperature, and the water cycle.
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Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Cycles of the Earth System: Make Convection Currents!

For Teachers 5th - 9th
In this lesson, students will understand that temperature changes can cause density changes in water and in air.
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Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: The Atmosphere, the Ocean, and Environmental Change

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of video lectures from a course that explores the physical processes the control Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and climate that is taught at Yale University. The course covers topics like clouds, rain, severe storms, regional...
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Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Earth the Water Planet

For Students 3rd - 5th
Use this site to read about planet Earth. See a photo of the Earth from space, and learn quick facts about the earth's atmosphere, axis, and surface.
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Interactive
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Weather and Climate: Water Cycle

For Students 2nd - 8th
Water water everywhere. Check out this video clip and test understanding about the cycle of water from the earth to the atmosphere.
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Activity
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Learn: The Greenhouse Effect

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed overview of the greenhouse effect, with explanations about Earth's atmosphere gases referred to as greenhouse gases, and the factors that influence the heat-trapping ability of a greenhouse. All information is reinforced...
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Unit Plan
Geographypods

Geographypods: Patterns in Environmental Quality and Sustainability

For Students 11th - 12th
This collection of five learning modules looks at issues related to environmental change and sustainability. Topics addressed include changes in the atmosphere, soil, water, and biodiversity, and what can be done to counteract this and...
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Article
Center for Educational Technologies

Classroom of the Future: Earth Spheres

For Students 9th - 10th
Everything in Earth's system can be placed into one of four major subsystems: land, water, living things, or air. These four subsystems are called "spheres." Specifically, they are the "lithosphere" (land), "hydrosphere" (water),...
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Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Greece: What Is the Earth Made Of?

For Students K - 1st
Dionysus is a Greek God. and a theater director. Help him get ready for the play and learn about land, water, and air. After completing this lesson, students should be able to identify the different materials Earth is made up from (land,...
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Website
NASA

Nasa Earth Observatory: Clouds in a Clear Sky

For Students 9th - 10th
This article introduces the different layers of the atmosphere and the clouds that are formed there. Scientists use instruments such as the SAGE 11 that help to measure amounts of sunlight, water vapor, and other conditions that affect...