📖 Part 1: Reading & Understanding Earth's Systems

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Earth is made up of four connected systems that work together. The geosphere includes all the solid parts of Earth like rocks, mountains, and soil. The hydrosphere contains all of Earth's water - oceans, rivers, lakes, ice, and underground water. The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds our planet, including the air we breathe. Finally, the biosphere includes all living things on Earth - plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. These systems constantly interact with each other. For example, plants (biosphere) grow in soil (geosphere), use water (hydrosphere), and take in gases from the air (atmosphere).

1. According to the passage, which system includes all the solid parts of Earth?

Atmosphere

Biosphere

Geosphere

Hydrosphere

2. What does the word "interact" mean in the last sentence of the passage?

Work together and affect each other

Stay completely separate

Compete against each other

Move in different directions

3. Which of Earth's systems contains all living things? (Check all that apply)

Plants and trees

Ocean water

Animals and insects

Bacteria and fungi

🏷️ Part 2: Vocabulary & Systems Identification

4. Match each vocabulary word with its correct definition:

Geosphere

Hydrosphere

Atmosphere

Biosphere

All living things on Earth

Layer of gases around Earth

All water on Earth

Solid parts of Earth

5. A fish swimming in a lake involves which two Earth systems?

6. Fill in the blanks: Rain falls from the _____________ (system) onto the _____________ (system) where it soaks into the soil.

7. Circle the items that belong to the GEOSPHERE:

mountains • clouds • fish • granite rock • ocean • soil • trees • underground caves

8. Explain how a tree interacts with at least three of Earth's systems:

🎯 Part 3: Critical Thinking & Application

9. A volcano erupts, sending ash into the air and lava onto the ground. Which Earth systems are directly involved in this event?

Only geosphere

Geosphere and atmosphere

All four systems

Hydrosphere and biosphere

10. Draw and label a simple diagram showing how Earth's four systems connect in your local environment. Include at least one example from each system.

11. Why is it important for scientists to study Earth's systems together rather than separately?

12. Create your own example of how three different Earth systems interact with each other: