SEEd - Grade 5
Lesson Plans

Strand 5.1: CHARACTERISTICS AND INTERACTIONS OF EARTH'S SYSTEMS

Earth's major systems are the geosphere (solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments), the hydrosphere (water and ice), the atmosphere (air), and the biosphere (living things, including humans). Within these systems, the location of Earth's land and water can be described. Also, these systems interact in multiple ways. Weathering and erosion are examples of interactions between Earth's systems. Some interactions cause landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that impact humans and other organisms. Humans cannot eliminate natural hazards, but solutions can be designed to reduce their impact.

Standard 5.1.4

Develop a model to describe interactions between Earth's systems including the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere. Emphasize interactions between only two systems at a time. Examples could include the influence of a rainstorm in a desert, waves on a shoreline, or mountains on clouds. (ESS2.A)

• Earths Spheres
  This lesson plan explains earth's four spheres to students. Students will answer questions in a whole class discussion about the spheres and will show they have mastered the concept by drawing pictures and explaining how the earth's spheres can interact with each other.  This would be recommended as the first lesson in teaching Interactions with Earths Systems.  Credit for Photo: "Earth Day 2008" by Ashish Lohorung is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. 
• Making Waves
  A lesson where students examine waves as they look at the interactions of Earth's systems (Going 3D with GRC)

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