Earth's Connected Systems
Grade 4 Science Discovering How Earth's Systems Work Together 90 Minutes of Exploration
What Are Earth's Four Systems?
Atmosphere - the air around us Hydrosphere - all the water on Earth Biosphere - all living things Lithosphere - the solid rock and soil
Think and Share
Look at these pictures: Flooded city after heavy rain Forest fire spreading smoke Oil spill in a lake How might these events affect MORE than one Earth system?
Systems Are Connected!
When one system changes, others change too Example: Forest fire affects air (atmosphere), animals (biosphere), and soil (lithosphere) Small changes can have BIG effects Everything on Earth is connected like a giant puzzle
Hands-On Project: Earth Systems Poster
Work alone or with a partner Draw a scenario card Create a poster showing how your scenario affects ALL four Earth systems Use arrows to show connections Include pictures and explanations
Scenario Examples
{"left":"Drought: Less water in rivers and lakes, Plants and animals struggle to survive, Dry soil cracks and erodes, Dusty air affects breathing","right":"Oil Spill: Water becomes polluted and toxic, Fish and birds get sick or die, Soil near water gets contaminated, Air quality may worsen from cleanup"}
Key Vocabulary
Atmosphere: layer of gases around Earth Hydrosphere: all water on Earth (oceans, rivers, lakes, ice) Biosphere: all living things (plants, animals, people) Lithosphere: Earth's solid surface (rocks, soil, mountains) Interconnected: connected to each other
Poster Presentation Time
Present your poster to the class Explain your scenario and its effects Show how systems are connected Classmates will give feedback Use sticky notes for questions and comments
Reflection Questions
Why is it important to understand that Earth's systems are connected? How can knowing this help people take better care of our planet? What surprised you most about system connections? Share one new thing you learned today
Exit Ticket Challenge
New scenario: A factory dumps chemicals into a river Quick write or draw: How might this affect the atmosphere? How might this affect the biosphere? How might this affect the lithosphere? Hand in your response before leaving