Earth's Spheres

Earth's Spheres Activity

We just finished learning about ecosystems. Ecosystems include both living and non-living things. Is there another way we can categorize parts of an ecosystem?

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​Unit 3 Start!

​Click these symbols on the slides to hear the slides read

You will be given 4 mystery science word starters. You and your team will work together using the provided clues to figure out what the words mean.

With your group:

Look and Listen to the clues on the next 4 slides. Write on your data sheet what you think each word means. Be sure you record your guess, there will be a question about this later.

​HYDRO-

ATMOS-

GEO-

BIO-

Match

Match the mystery word starters with their meaning.

• Hydro-

• Atmos-

• Bio-

• Geo-

Water

Air

Living

Earth, Rock

• Water

• Air

• Living

• Earth, Rock

How do we connect this with earth's "spheres"?

Sphere has 2 meanings:
-A 3D Shape
-An Area - we will use this one!

If we connect our word starters with sphere, how does that change the meaning?

Match

Match the spheres with what kind of area they are

• Hydrosphere

• Atmosphere

• Biosphere

• Geosphere

An area with water

An area with air

An area with living things

An area with rocks, minerals, and earth

• An area with water

• An area with air

• An area with living things

• An area with rocks, minerals, and earth

Raise your hand to let Ms. Howard know you are ready for the next step!

You will get a tray with our mystery word labels. Sort the items on the tray into the sphere you think it fits in. Check if your sorting is correct by answering the question on the next page.

Categorize

Options (11)

Sand

Rock

Sea Salt

Sun (Flashlight)

Air (Balloon)

Temperature (Thermometer)

Ocean Animal

Sea Shell

Plant (plant or seed)

Water

Ice

Check your sorting by dragging each item to the category you choose.

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Atmosphere

Geosphere

​Return your tray and items to Ms. Howard!

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​CER: How do we know which sphere something belongs to?

Construct a CER on the next slide or on your paper data sheet. Your claim should answer the above question. Take a look at the example on this slide (do not use this for your CER).

​Claim: Water belongs in the hydrosphere.

Evidence: Hydro means water.

Reasoning: Hydro means water therefore, water belongs in the hydrosphere.

Open Ended

Construct a CER using one of the items you sorted to answer this question: What sphere does _____ belong to?

All done early?

Turn over your data sheet for some challenge questions!