Earth Science is the discipline designed to let students discover their world in greater detail. This field encompasses rocks, minerals, age of the earth, atmosphere, ocean science, geography and much more! Generally recognized within Earth Science are these spheres of our planet:
(Click on any of the above spheres to learn more about them)
Teacher Resources
Click here for a web based collection of lessons and web resources from the NSF.
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 NSTA Learning Center
This website offers interactive "Science Packs" that offer an indepth look into subject matter. If you visit the site, and sign up using your name and email address, you can view the "Ocean's Effect on Weather and Climate" pack for free. The depth of this web-based tutorial will amaze you! |
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Enduring Resources Earth Science Education
Search through extensive resources by question or topic on this site. Also listed are workshops, news articles, and web links relating to Earth Science.
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Virtual Courseware for Earth and Environmental Sciences
This Virtual Coursework website is sponsored by both the National Science Foundation and California State University. It offers teachers and students a rich variety of virtual field trips and simulations to enhance understanding of the Earth and Environmental Sciences. This site is also full of lesson plans which support and extend the virtual learning experiences.
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Digital Library for Earth System Education
This is a great site for learners of all ages. Sections are dedicated to Educators and Developers inlcuding educational resources, news, and opportunities. The comprehensive search engine allows the user to search for resources fit to specific grade levels and standards.
DLESE Teaching Boxes
Find out how to use a classroom-ready instructional unit created by a team of teachers, scientists, and designers. Each box contains materials that model scientific inquiry, allowing teachers to build classroom experiences around data collection and analysis.
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Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences
This project outlines a K-12 climate-oriented approach to teaching science standards. The guide was developed by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Google Earth© Lessons
This is a free and public resource which provides teachers with the tools needed to enhance their instruction using Google Earth©, the free program that brings the world to the classroom. While visiting the site, be sure to visit the library and learn nifty tricks!
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Cleaning Water
In this lesson (Grades 3-5) from NASA, students create and test a system to filter "gray" water. Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) recycle their water, including moisture from their sweat and exhalations and water from showering and shaving. These wastewaters are purified and then used as drinking water. |
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Enrichment, Practice, and Games for Students
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Great Earth Science Books
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Rocks and Minerals by: Edward Ricciuti and Margaret Carruthers
National Audubon Society's First Field Guides are an excellent resource for children, teens, or anyone interested in investigating a new subject. The field guide to rocks and minerals features full-color photographs; another neat feature is the other related minerals section, showing the relationship between mineral types. Also check out these Field Guides also from the National Audubon Society: Night Sky, Wildflowers, Amphibians, Fishes, Mammals, and Insects. |
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Planet Earth by: Sally Morgan, Roseanna Hooper, and Lucy Baker
An over-arching look at habitat, weather, conservation, and everything that has to do with our planet Earth. |
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I Wonder Why Stalactites Hang Down and Other Questions about Caves by: Jackie Gaff
Questions and answers explore the world of caves on land and under the sea, such as how they are formed, the different zones of caves, and what life can and cannot survive there. Each section features a natural cave wonder in some area of the world. |
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The Drop in my Drink by: Meredith Hooper
Follow a drop of water as it travels around the world. |
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The LithosphereThis is the solid, rocky sphere of our Earth. It is the outermost shell of our planet, including the crust and the uppermost mantle. Think of the mountains, hills and valleys you may view from a plane window. Those land formations are all part of the lithosphere… it rocks!
The crust is the part of the lithosphere we are most familiar with. It is here that we see such spectacular sights as mountains and canyons. Scientists are beginning to understand violent changes within the lithosphere like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
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The Hydrosphere
This sphere includes the water found on, under, and over the surface of our planet. The Earth's hydrosphere consists of water in all forms: the ocean, surface waters, and rain are liquid water; snow, glaciers, and other ices are made of solid water, and clouds are formed by water vapor. The amount of water on Earth is a unique feature that gives it the nickname "The Blue Planet".
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The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is a layer of gases that surround the Earth. Our atmosphere is mostly made up of nitrogen (about 70%) with oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor making up almost all of the rest. The gases are attracted to Earth by its gravitational pull. The atmosphere protects plant and animal life by absorbing harmful UV rays, and keeping temperatures steady between day and night. Interestingly, there is no definite boundary between the atmosphere and outer space. Instead, the air slowly becomes thinner as it fades into space.
The picture above is taken of the edge of our atmosphere. Notice how it does not end abruptly as we might think. There is no clear boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space.
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The Biosphere
Any part of the Earth that supports plant or animal life is part of the biosphere. From 2,000 meters in the sky, to 8,000 meters below water life can be found on Earth. Nearly every part of our planet supports life of some kind.
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