Curated OER
The Change of a River
High schoolers 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...
Curated OER
The Change of a River
Students explore changes in the Missouri River. For 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...
Curated OER
Alaska's Physical Systems and History
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.
Curated OER
The Geography - Writing Connection
Young scholars examine and describe the four physical systems of the Earth. Using two of the systems, they practice their writing skills and use vocabulary associated with the different types of landforms. They predict the types of...
Curated OER
How Mountains Shape Climate
Students use raw data to make a climatograph; they explain the process of orographic precipitation and the concept of a rain shadow.
Curated OER
Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...
Curated OER
Using Venn Diagrams to Compare Two Ecosystems
Students explore the distribution of two ecosystems on a global scale; and map the distribution of tropical and temperate rain forests throughout the world. They use a Venn Diagram to describe these ecosystems and the differences between...
Curated OER
World Geography: Global Interdependence
Students are able to discuss the theory of climate change. They identify examples of how climate change impacts the earth's geo-spheres. Students are able to use the example of climate change to describe the interdependence of the...
Curated OER
Is Climate Change Really Happening?
Students explore the impact of global warming. In this oceanography lesson, students investigate global climate change and write reaction papers about their research findings.
Curated OER
Bryant Creek Watershed Project - Making a Karst Dictionary
Students explore the definitions relevant to Karst topography. They develop a Bryant Watershed Dictionary of the special words and terms that are used to talk about the topography and hydrology of the area they live in.
Other
Interactions Between the Atmosphere & Hydrosphere [Pdf]
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...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Atmosphere
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the rock surface of the Earth, its water, and the gas layers that surround it.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt: Earth System Science Project
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.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Geoscience and Petroleum Careers
For this activity, students think about how various real-world careers relate to personal interests and Earth's systems- the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
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...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 1: Think Globally: Act Locally
A lab experiment in a series of experiments that explores Earth Science Systems. This lab introduces students to the parts of the Earth system: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and pedosphere. As the students learn about the...
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),...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Earth's Spheres
Check out the tutorial which introduces the Earth's spheres. Viewers should be able to identify the Geosphere, Biosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and Cryosphere and know their differences and similarities.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: 12.15 Biosphere
Understand Earth's biosphere which contains the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
The Wonder of Science
The Wonder of Science: 5 Ess2 1: Earth Sphere Interactions
Fifth graders develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
NASA
Nasa: Visible Earth
From NASA, "Images, visualizations, and animations," that students will find extremely interesting and helpful in their study of the earth. Includes pictures of environmental impacts, erosion, coastal processes, atmosphere, and lots more.
Center for Educational Technologies
Exploring the Environment: Earth System Science
Explains what the four spheres of the Earth are, and the interactions between them.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Earth System Science
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.
California State University
Csu: The Sourcebook for Teaching Science: Earth Systems Interactions
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.