Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Earth System: El Nino's Influence on Hurricane Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment adapted from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explains how and where hurricanes develop. Learn how El Nino events alter the course of atmospheric circulation. Includes background reading material and discussion...
Article
NOAA

Noaa: Earth System Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
As viewed from space, the Earth appears beautiful and serene. As you well know, however, here standing on Earth, it's complicated! Complex, that is. And, it's constantly changing. Often changes on Earth happen so slowly it would be...
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....
Lesson Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education (Dlese)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides materials for teachers on a huge array of topics. Search site by topic, grade level, and desired output (such as lesson plan, case study, assessment or tutorial). Site is focused on earth science, geography, and...
Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Elementary Globe: Earth System in a Bottle

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
If you have seeds at home, try this activity to help kids learn what a seed needs to grow. Students will create experimental conditions in terrariums to study what plants need to live. They will learn about the importance of the...
Lesson Plan
National Association of Geoscience Teachers

Nagt: Earth System Science Project

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An Earth System Project shows the interaction between the Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere. This project provides a model of a pond ecosystem and can easily be woven into the hydrosphere unit.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Earth System Science

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn to identify the parts of the Earth system and the processes that connect them. They look for interconnections among components of the Earth system at the local level, using a study site close to their school.
Handout
California State University

Csu: The Sourcebook for Teaching Science: Earth Systems Interactions

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what the four spheres of the Earth are and describes how volcanic eruptions affect the different spheres. Also provides a list of events that are examples of interactions.
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Earth System

For Students 4th - 8th
Learn about the systems that make up Earth, and find out how they interact.
Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: The Earth as a System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
An overview of content about Earth and its atmosphere. The module was developed for middle school science teachers to provide background information for teaching the curriculum.
Handout
Center for Educational Technologies

Exploring the Environment: Earth System Science

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what the four spheres of the Earth are, and the interactions between them.
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.
Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

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

For Teachers 5th - 9th
In this activity, students will understand that temperature changes can cause density changes in water and in air.
Website
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week

For Students 1st - 9th
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,...
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Creating an Earth System: Interactions in the Earth System

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of the four spheres of the Earth, with an activity where students brainstorm interactions among them.
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences: Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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.
Graphic
NASA

Nasa: Earth: Overview: Our Home Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Utah Education Network

Uen: Themepark: Home/habitat: Planet Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Interactive
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: The Systems Game

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Geoscience and Petroleum Careers

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students think about how various real-world careers relate to personal interests and Earth's systems- the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
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),...
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Surficial Features

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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...