Browse Earth Systems Resources

Browse Earth Systems Resources

Exploring the Water Cycle

Exploring the Water Cycle
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.C
Keywords: 
Solar Radiation, transpiration, evaporation, infiltration
Summary: 
In this lesson, students will learn about the water cycle and how energy from the sun and the force of gravity drive this cycle.

"Survivor: Earth" Lesson Plan Series

"Survivor: Earth" Lesson Plan Series
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Precipitation, Earth Systems, Water & Life, Satellites, Remote Sensing
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5, General
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, conservation, Earth systems
Summary: 
These original GPM lessons have been developed to teach students about local and global water issues. . They are hands on activities that are done largely outdoors, and which include scientific data collection and analysis and integrate technology.

Water Falls Post-Visit Lesson

Satellite image of Hurricane Guillaume
Primary Topic: 
Weather and Climate
Subtopics: 
Water Cycle, Earth Systems, Weather, Tropical Cyclones, Satellites
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8
Standards: 
ESS2.C
Keywords: 
rain gauges, hot towers, natural hazards
Summary: 
In this lesson, students will learn about hurricanes as a natural hazard. They will learn about technologies that have been developed to mitigate their devastating effects.

Water in the Geosphere

Water in the Geosphere
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
geosphere, soil, abiotic
Summary: 
This lesson helps students learn about the geosphere by making observations and collecting data.

Water in the Biosphere

Water in the Biosphere
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Water & Life
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C, ESS2.D, ESS2.E
Keywords: 
biosphere, land cover, plants, biotic
Summary: 
This lesson helps students learn about the biosphere by making observations and using a dichotomous key.

Water in Earth's Hydrosphere

Water in Earth's Hydrosphere
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems, Water & Life
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Keywords: 
hydrosphere, transparency, hydrology, surface water, stream
Summary: 
This lesson helps students learn about the hydrosphere by making observations and collecting data.

Water Falls Pre-Visit Lesson

Water Falls logo
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8
Standards: 
ESS2.C
Keywords: 
Reservoir, freshwater, Solar Radiation, Phase change
Summary: 
In this lesson, students will learn about the water cycle. The lesson is intended to be use by teachers before they take their students to view the Science On a Sphere movie, “Water Falls.”

The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere
Summary: 
This activity was developed to give participants an understanding of Earth’s water cycle by completing a webquest and building a model of the water cycle.

Earth's Water

Photo of Earth's oceans from space
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Water & Life, Freshwater Resources
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
freshwater, blue marble, glaciers
Summary: 
This activity was developed to give participants an understanding of how much and where water is on Earth by participating in a demonstration and using maps.

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Earth Systems, Water & Life
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere
Summary: 
This activity was developed to give participants an understanding of Earth’s four spheres and how they are connected.

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