Embedded Files
Learning Intentions:
Learning Intentions:
Understand the Four Spheres: Students will identify and describe the Earth's four spheres: lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Explain Sphere Interactions: Students will understand how the four spheres interact to support natural environments.
Success Criteria:
Success Criteria:
Identification and Description: Students can identify and describe the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Interaction Explanation: Students can explain examples of interactions between the spheres.
Starter: The area near the earth's surface can be divided into four interconnected spheres: lithosphere (sometimes known as the geosphere), hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
Think of them as four interconnected parts that make up a complete system; in this case, of life on earth.
Geographers use this system to classify and study the organic (biotic) and inorganic materials found on the planet.
Task One - Popcorn Reading - Earth's Four Spheres.
Each person takes a turn to read one or two sentences before calling out someone's else's name to continue. The highlighted information is the basic key information.
The Lithosphere/Geosphere
The Lithosphere/Geosphere
The lithosphere, sometimes called the geosphere, refers to all of the rocks and sediment of the earth. It includes the planet's mantle and crust, the two outermost layers. The boulders of Mount Everest, the sands of Miami Beach, and the lava erupting from Hawaii's Mount Kilauea are all components of the lithosphere.
The actual thickness of the lithosphere varies considerably and can range from roughly 40 km to 280 km.1 The lithosphere ends at the point when the minerals in the earth's crust begin to demonstrate viscous and fluid behaviors.
The lithosphere is divided into about 12 major tectonic plates and several minor plates that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
The Hydrosphere
The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere is composed of all of the water on or near the planet's surface. This includes oceans, rivers, and lakes, as well as underground aquifers and the moisture in the atmosphere. Scientists estimate that about 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water.
The planet's water doesn't exist in a static environment, it changes form as it moves through the hydrological cycle. It falls to the earth in the form of rain, seeps into underground aquifers, rises to the surface from springs or seeps from porous rock, and flows from small streams into larger rivers that empty into lakes, seas, and oceans, where some of it evaporates into the atmosphere to begin the cycle anew.
The Biosphere
The Biosphere
The biosphere is composed of all living organisms: plants, animals and one-celled organisms alike. Most of the planet's terrestrial life is found in a zone that stretches from 3 meters below ground to 30 meters above it. In the oceans and seas, most aquatic life inhabits a zone that stretches from the surface to about 200 meters below.
But some creatures can live far outside of these ranges: some birds are known to fly as high as 7,000 meters above the earth, under certain circumstances.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Mariana snailfish has been found living at a depth below 6,000 meters in the Marianas Trench.7 Microorganisms are known to survive well beyond even these ranges.
The biosphere is made up of biomes, which are areas where plants and animals of a similar nature can be found together. A desert, with its cactus, sand, and lizards, is one example of a biome. A coral reef is another.
The Atmosphere
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the body of gasses that surrounds our planet, held in place by earth's gravity. Most of our atmosphere is located close to the earth's surface where it is most dense. The air of our planet is 79% nitrogen and just under 21% oxygen; the small amount remaining is composed of argon, carbon dioxide, and other trace gasses.
The atmosphere itself rises to about 10,000 kilometers in height and is divided into layers. The first is the troposphere which rises to approx 20km and is the layer where all of Earth's weather occurs. Beyond this lies the stratosphere, which rises to 50 kilometers above the planet. Next comes the mesosphere, which extends to about 85 kilometers above the earth's surface. The thermosphere rises to about 600 kilometers above the earth, then finally the exosphere, the outermost layer. Beyond the exosphere lies outer space.
Task Two - Earth's Spheres
Use handout or draw circles in books.
a) Assign each circle to one of Earth's spheres.
b) Within the circle, draw a 'scene' to encapsulate the meaning of the sphere.
For example, for 'hydrosphere' perhaps you might draw a rain cloud with raindrops falling onto a lake and a mountain in the background with ice and snow at the top - (ice/snow/precipitation/bodies of water are all examples of hydrosphere).
c) Use colouring pencils and take your time.
d) Label each sphere using the highlighted information for each sphere above.
When you have finished, cut out each sphere and glue them into your books in such a way as to overlap them slightly.
This is important as it shows that all of the spheres overlap - it is the overlapping of the spheres that creates ecosystems and habitats and helps them to function in the way that they should.
Copy the following passage underneath your four spheres:
All four spheres can be and often are present in a single location. For example, an area or particle of soil will contain minerals as part of the lithosphere. Additionally, there will be elements of the hydrosphere present as moisture within the soil, the biosphere as insects and plants, and even the atmosphere as pockets of air between soil pieces. The complete overlapping system is what makes up life as we know it on Earth.
🌍 Task Three – Spheres Challenge!
Your challenge is to explore a random place on Earth and identify how the Earth’s four spheres (biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere) are interacting there. Are all four present? Just two or three?
Steps:
1) Go to the random coordinate generator. 'random' latitude and longitude generator Click “Pick Random Coordinates.”
2) Click “Show with Google Maps Satellite View.” This will take you to a random spot on Earth. If it lands you in the middle of the ocean, you can choose to navigate to the closest landmass or choose another location.
3) Look around the location.
Which of the four Earth spheres can you see? Think about how the others might be there, even if they’re not visible.
4) Describe each 'sphere' for the location you have chosen. Try to make a link between each sphere and the other spheres. For example, the nutrient rich soil in a tropical environment (lithosphere) would support diverse plant species (biosphere).
Describe where it is and how it interacts with the others. Use the internet to help if needed (see the example below).Your task is to go to any place on the earth's surface and identify how the spheres of the Earth interact and overlap in that location. Perhaps they are all present? Perhaps there are only two?
For example: in this location, the following spheres were evident.
Indian Ocean (off the coast of Madagascar)
Hydrosphere (I used Google to find out the facts about the Indian Ocean)
I landed in the Indian Ocean, which is a large body of water. It is the third-largest ocean in the world, covering about 70 million square kilometres. The ocean is part of the hydrosphere, which includes all the water on Earth. The Indian Ocean plays a big role in the water cycle through processes like evaporation, and it also provides a home for many sea creatures.
Atmosphere (I asked Google 'tell me about the atmospheric conditions over the Indian Ocean)
The atmosphere is the layer of gases (like oxygen and carbon dioxide) that surrounds the Earth. Over the Indian Ocean, the climate is controlled by strong winds called southeastern trade winds, which move across the ocean. These winds affect the ocean's surface and create waves and currents. In return, the temperature of the ocean also affects the air above it, showing how the hydrosphere and atmosphere interact.
Lithosphere
The lithosphere is the solid part of the Earth, including the ocean floor. Under the Indian Ocean, there are underwater mountains, volcanoes, and deep trenches. These landforms can shape the ocean floor and affect how water moves. For example, volcanoes can heat the water, and underwater ridges can change ocean currents, linking the lithosphere and hydrosphere.
Biosphere
The biosphere includes all living things. The Indian Ocean is home to many animals like dugongs, turtles, whales, dolphins, and cuttlefish. These animals rely on clean water (hydrosphere), the right temperatures and weather (atmosphere), and safe habitats like coral reefs on the ocean floor (lithosphere). This shows how living things are connected to all the other spheres.
Be prepared to read aloud your responses.
Plenary - Quick Jeopardy Questions.
Write down your answers to the following questions and then add up your points for each correct answer.
Lithosphere Facts for 100 Points: "What is the outermost layer of the Earth called?"
Hydrosphere Wonders for 200 Points: "What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by water?"
Atmosphere Insights for 300 Points: "Name the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs."
Biosphere Life for 400 Points: "What is the term for the variety of life found in the biosphere?"
Teachers - click this box for the answers!
Answers:
Answers:
Lithosphere Facts for 100 Points:
Question: "What is the outermost layer of the Earth called?"
Answer: The crust
Hydrosphere Wonders for 200 Points:
Question: "What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by water?"
Answer: Approximately 71%
Atmosphere Insights for 300 Points:
Question: "Name the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs."
Answer: The troposphere
Biosphere Life for 400 Points:
Question: "What is the term for the variety of life found in the biosphere?"
Answer: Biodiversity
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