Center for Educational Technologies
Exploring the Environment: Earth System Science
Explains what the four spheres of the Earth are, and the interactions between them.
Other
Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Essentials of Weather
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.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Cycles of the Earth System: Make Convection Currents!
For this lesson, students will understand that temperature changes can cause density changes in water and in air.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week
This site includes learning resources and activities for Earth Science Week 2016. The goal of the week is to "engage young people and others in exploring geoheritage throughout the Earth systems, including the geosphere, hydrosphere,...
University of California
Ucmp: Creating an Earth System: Interactions in the Earth System
A brief description of the four spheres of the Earth, with an activity where students brainstorm interactions among them.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences: Solar System
A university-level course that looks at the structure of the solar system, the sun, the planets, and other bodies in space. Includes course readings, assignments, and study notes.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Flex Book Textbooks: Earth Science Concepts for Middle School
[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.
NASA
Nasa: Earth: Overview: Our Home Planet
Provides a comprehensive look at the planet Earth including photos, how Earth got its name, and facts and figures about its size, seasons, moon, atmosphere, rotation, and lithosphere.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Themepark: Home/habitat: Planet Earth
Find a large collection of internet resources organized around our home planet, Earth. Links to places to go, people to see, things to do, teacher resources, and bibliographies.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: The Systems Game
Systems thinking is an important concept across the Earth sciences. In this game, students either are a part of a system or serve as scientists tasked with observing and making sense of the system moving in front of them.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Geoscience and Petroleum Careers
In this activity, learners think about how various real-world careers relate to personal interests and Earth's systems- the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Center for Educational Technologies
Classroom of the Future: Earth Spheres
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),...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Surficial Features
Using a surficial features map, students see the connections between those features and other Earth systems. They will consider the interactions of the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
Indiana University
Indiana Univ.: Global Energy Transfer, Atmosphere and Ocean Circulation, Climate
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...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Earth Origin, Composition, and Structure
In this lesson, you will learn about how the Earth formed as well as the composition and structural layers of the Earth's interior.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Effect of Atmospheric Circulation on Climate
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at how atmospheric circulation cells affect the climate of regions.
NOAA
Noaa: Weather Systems and Patterns
Imagine our weather if Earth were completely motionless, had a flat dry landscape and an un-tilted axis. This, of course, is not the case; if it were, the weather would be much different. The local weather that impacts our daily lives...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at how heat is transferred in the atmosphere.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Early Atmosphere and Oceans
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How Earth's atmosphere and oceans formed.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Early Atmosphere and Oceans
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How Earth's atmosphere and oceans formed.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere Study Guide
Understand heat transfer in the atmosphere using this study guide.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Earth's Lithosphere
The plate tectonics and other features of the Earth's lithosphere are explained and illustrated. Has links to definitions of the magnetosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science for Middle School
This digital textbook covers core earth science concepts and includes interactive features, real-world examples, videos, and study guides.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Earth
Learn interesting information about the Earth, the largest of the "terrestrial" planets.