Earth's Spheres
Learn about the four main spheres of the Earth: lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere. Find out how the Earth has changed since the Pangea times and learn about colliding continents, land masses, formation and destruction of lakes, rivers, mountains, and volcanoes. Learn how scientists use Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite sonograms and ground-probing radars to learn more about the Earth. Includes simulations, animations, videos, games, quizzes, and in-class activities. Also includes eThemes resources on the Earth’s atmosphere, water cycle, and ecosystems.
Grades
- 3,
- 4,
- 5,
- 6
Links
-
Spheres
Learn about the blue world full of spheres: lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and exosphere. Select the "Cycles" link to learn about rock and water cycles.
-
Earth Structure
See the structure of the Earth from plate tectonics to the Earth's core. Follow links at the top of the page to learn about the Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and cycles. The "Atmosphere" and "Cycles" pages include videos on use of satellites and meaning of cycles. The "Activities" page includes quizzes, photographs and links to live webcams. NOTE: The site includes ads.
-
Geo Mysteries
Be a detective and solve mystery cases that require knowledge of rocks, minerals, and crystals. You learn as you play.
-
Tectonics
This site has an eight-page PDF file worksheet for students on Earths' tectonics accompanied by a teachers' guide. Find out about ongoing Earth changes and learn about the crust, mantle, lithosphere, asthenosphere, and the core. Scroll down to the Geology curriculum and select two PDF file icons in the Worksheets and Teachers Guide columns.
-
BrainPop: Science: Earth
Learn types of plate movements and their boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform. Find out how GPS satellites help scientist monitor plate motions. The site is illustrated by 2D and 3D images and photographs.
-
Understanding Plate Motion
Learn types of plate movements and their boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform. Find out how GPS satellites help scientist to monitor plate motions. The site is illustrated by 2D and 3D images and photographs.
-
Animations for Earthquakes Terms and Concepts
Here are several animations demonstrating various types of earthquakes and distribution of P and S waves.
-
PBS Online: Seismic Waves
This interactive website can help kids visualize how scientists record seismic waves.
-
The Layered Earth
This page contains two in-class activities where students become human plate tectonics and human seismographs. Students also create an edible Earth's model from candy, marshmallows, and chocolate.
-
Earth's Interior
Learn about the Earth's interior: the layers' chemical composition and temperatures. Find out how scientists learn about the structure of the planet by using sonograms and ground-probing radars.
-
Journey to the Center of the Earth
This is a middle school webpage created by fifth-graders. The site includes a description of the Earth's structure, ideas on how people can use earth, games, and jokes.
-
Paleomap Project
Use these interactive maps to look back in time and into the Earth's future from Pangea to Pangea Ultima. Use the mouse cursor to move plate tectonics on the maps.
-
EnchantedLearning: The Water Cycle
Learn about the water cycle on earth. Includes a printout diagram and a quiz. Select "The Earth's Oceans" link to learn more about the Earths' hydrosphere. NOTE: The site includes ads.
-
Water
Enter this site to learn more about the water cycle. NOTE: The site allows signing a guestbook but does not displays its content.
-
Quia: The Earth Vocabulary
Play this hangman game and test your Earth vocabulary.
-
Quia: Looking at the Earth
Take this 20-question quiz to find out how much you know about the Earth surface.
-
Earth System Cards
Use a deck of playing cards to help demonstrate the Earth's spheres with younger students.
-
eThemes Resource: Solar System: Earth's Atmosphere
These sites are about the Earth's atmosphere and its layers. See pictures, diagrams, and videos, then try the interactive quizzes.
-
eThemes Resource: Water Cycle: Explanations and Illustrations
These sites explain the water cycle and include the topics of evaporation, precipitation, and condensation. View several diagrams explaining the cycle. There is a word search and a quiz.
-
eThemes Resource: Habitat: An Overview
This resource covers the different ecosystems on our planet. Find out how these biomes differ, what characteristics make them unique, and where they are located.
Education Standards
- UT
- IL
- AL
- AR
- ME
- MO
- NV
- OK
