Earth’s Dynamic Systems

Substitute Teacher Package

Date: Friday, December 12, 2025
Grade: 7th & 8th Grade
Subject: Science
Class Size: 25 Students
Total Time: 360 Minutes (6 hours)

Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) & TEKS Alignment:
This lesson integrates Science TEKS for middle school Earth and space sciences and aligns with Common Core foundational literacy standards in Science and Technical Subjects for 7th & 8th grades to ensure comprehension and literacy development.

TEKS Science Requirements:
- 7.8 Earth and Space: Identify and describe Earth’s systems and how energy flows through them.
- 7.9 Earth’s Features: Investigate Earth’s structure, weather systems, and natural hazards.
Common Core Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science texts.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3: Follow precisely multistep procedures in scientific experiments.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic.

Learning Objectives (I Can Statements)

I can identify and describe the Earth’s major systems (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere).
I can explain how energy moves through and between Earth’s systems.
I can analyze how natural events like earthquakes and volcanoes affect Earth’s surface.
I can read and interpret scientific texts and diagrams related to Earth’s systems, using evidence to support my understanding.
I can collaborate with classmates to conduct a simple experiment to observe Earth's processes.

Success Criteria

Students will:

Accurately label and describe Earth’s systems on diagrams.
Demonstrate understanding of energy flow by explaining processes in their own words during discussions.
Complete a hands-on activity demonstrating cause and effect between Earth’s systems.
Use scientific vocabulary correctly in written and oral forms.
Complete a formative quiz with at least 80% accuracy.

Materials Needed

Laminated Earth systems diagrams
Colored markers and sticky notes
Student science notebooks
Copies of dyslexia-friendly reading passages (high-contrast colors, larger print, simplified vocabulary) on Earth’s systems
Materials for “Earthquake Shake Table” experiment (plastic containers, gelatin, cardboard plates, rulers)
Quiz sheets
Projector and videos of natural events (optional)
Graphic organizers for note-taking

Schedule & Activities

1. Warm-Up & Introduction (30 min)

Activity: Quick Write – “What do you know about Earth’s systems?” (5 min)
Class Discussion: Share answers; teacher builds a concept map on board with student input (10 min)
I Can Read: Distribute dyslexia-friendly Earth systems passage. Read aloud as a class with paired reading option (15 min)

2. Interactive Mini-Lecture with Diagrams (50 min)

Present Earth’s four major systems using laminated diagrams.
Students label their own diagrams while following along.
Discuss how energy flows (sunlight, heat transfer).
Use real-world examples of natural events (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions).
Check for understanding with quick oral Q&A.

3. Hands-On Experiment: Earthquake Shake Table (90 min)

Objective: Understand how energy from tectonic movement affects Earth’s surface.
Students work in groups of 4-5.
Build a simple shake table using provided materials.
Simulate an earthquake and observe effects on “buildings” (cardboard plates).
Record observations in notebooks.
Each group presents findings, focusing on cause and effect between geosphere and atmosphere.

4. Break / Movement (15 min)

5. Reading & Writing Connection (45 min)

Distribute a short dyslexia-friendly scientific article about volcanoes and their impact on Earth systems.
Students answer guided questions using a graphic organizer.
Write a short paragraph explaining how volcanoes connect Earth’s systems and energy flow.
Peer review for constructive feedback.

6. Game-Based Review: Earth’s Systems Quiz Show (30 min)

Divide class into 5 teams.
Use quiz questions based on earlier content to review key concepts.
Reward team points for correct answers to encourage engagement.

7. Reflection & Exit Ticket (10 min)

Students write an “I can…” statement answering how their understanding of Earth’s systems has grown.
Turn in exit ticket as a formative assessment.

Differentiation Strategies

For Struggling Learners:
- Use paired reading and oral explanations.
- Provide sentence frames and graphic organizers.
- Allow extra time on written work.
- Use hands-on activities to reinforce concepts.
For Advanced Learners:
- Encourage research about recent natural disasters and their systemic effects.
- Create a multimedia presentation explaining a specific Earth system interaction.
- Challenge to write a cause-effect essay with scientific vocabulary.

Dyslexia-Friendly Options

Text passages are printed with sans-serif fonts, large font size (14-16 pt).
High contrast colors (dark text on light backgrounds).
Instructions are chunked into small, manageable steps.
Use of visual aids and diagrams alongside text.
Oral reading and paired reading activities to support decoding.
Frequent comprehension checks with discussion rather than only written responses.

Extension Activities

At-Home Project: Students track and report on local weather patterns for a week, relating observations to Earth’s systems and energy flow.
Creative Writing: Write a fictional journal entry from the perspective of a rock moving through the geosphere during an earthquake or volcanic eruption.
Science Journal: Create a detailed, annotated sketchbook documenting a scientific phenomenon related to Earth systems, including diagrams and explanations.

Assessment

Informal checks during activities and discussions
Observation of group experiment participation and presentations
Written paragraph and graphic organizer on volcanoes
Quiz show performance
Exit ticket “I can…” reflection statement

Notes for Substitute Teacher

Encourage student collaboration and participation; foster a positive and safe environment for questions.
Use provided reading materials and graphic organizers for all literacy tasks.
Manage time carefully to complete each section; refer to the timing guide above.
Assist struggling readers with paired reading and modeling pronunciation.
Ensure students document all activities in their notebooks for the permanent record.
Collect exit tickets before the end of the period for teacher review.

Thank you for your support in delivering this comprehensive science experience!