How the World Works

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.

Central Idea: The sustainability of Earth's systems depend on human actions

The Earth's systems (Function)

Interconnectedness of Earth's systems (Connection)

The interaction between humans and the environment (Responsibility)

NGSS: Earth Systems

1. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact. 5-ESS2-1
2. Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth. 5-ESS2-2
3. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment. 5-ESS3-1

Books in the iCommons:

1. Common ground : the water, earth, and air we share by Molly Bang Summary: Imagines a village in which there are too many people consuming shared resources and discusses the challenge of handling our world's environment safely.

2. Our Earth : how kids are saving the planet written and illustrated by Janet Wilson. Summary: Describes how ten kids from around the world fought to protect the environment, including twelve-year-old Severn Cullis-Suzuki, fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba, and seven-year-old Ryan Hreljac, and encourages young readers get involved and to take action.

3. The story of rosy dock by Jeannie Baker. Summary: Tells how the plant "rosy dock" has spread all over Australia after being introduced more than 100 years ago by newcomer Europeans who brought animals and plants to the new environment.

4. This is the earth by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander ; paintings by Wendell Minor. Summary: Rhyming text describes how human beings have affected the the environment and shows ways in which we can care for the planet.

5. Ryan and Jimmy : and the well in Africa that brought them together by Herb Shoveller. Summary: Chronicles the friendship of Ryan Hreljac and Akana Jimmy, who became penpals after Ryan, a Canadian boy, raised money to build a well in Jimmy's village in Uganda, and explains how they became brothers.

6. The gift : a magical story about caring for the earth by [written and illustrated by Isia Osuchowska Summary: When the king asks how a wise man and his followers will use the money the queen has given them, the wise man explains the gift's far-reaching impact.

7. The mangrove tree : planting trees to feed families by Susan L. Roth & Cindy Trumbore ; collages by Susan L. Roth.Verse and narrative describe the ecological and social transformation resulting from the work of Dr. Gordon Sato, a Japanese American cell biologist who made saltwater and desert land productive through the planting of mangrove trees in the tiny African country of Eritrea. Includes afterword, photographs, glossary, and author's sources.

8. One plastic bag : Isatou Ceesay and the recycling women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul ; illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon. Isatou Ceesay finds a way to recycle discarded plastic bags that have accumulated in dirty heaps in her Gambian village.

9. The adventures of a plastic bottle : a story about recycling by Alison Inches ; illustrated by Pete Whitehead. Summary: A plastic bottle describes its journey from the refinery through a recycling plant, after which it was used as part of a space suit.

10. The magic school bus : At the waterworks by Joanna Cole. Summary: When Mrs. Frizzle, the strangest teacher in school, takes her class on a field trip to the waterworks, everyone ends up experiencing the water purification system from the inside.