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Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes

Earth's four spheres and how they interact

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.5-ESS2-1England: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphereEngland: KS2 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Earth's four spheres and how they interact.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Land and water on Earth

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Land and water on Earth). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. In which form is water found at the top of very high mountains? (only gas / there is never water there / solid ice and snow / only liquid) → solid ice and snowPrompt: It is very cold high up.
  2. About 96% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 4 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
  3. Which landform is described: a long dip carved by a river or glacier? (mountain / valley / island / river) → valleyPrompt: Is it high land, low land, land in water, or moving water?

Hook · 3 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Earth's four spheres and how they interact. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which of Earth's spheres does this belong to: a pebble?
  • Step 1: The geosphere is Earth's solid rock, soil and the hot rock inside.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: geosphere (rock and land)
  • Answer: geosphere (rock and land)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which of Earth's spheres does this belong to: a pebble? (geosphere (rock and land) / hydrosphere (water) / atmosphere (air) / biosphere (living things)) → geosphere (rock and land)Prompt: Is it rock, water, air or alive?
  2. Which two spheres are interacting here: tree roots grow into cracks and split a rock? (geosphere and atmosphere / biosphere and hydrosphere / hydrosphere and geosphere / biosphere and geosphere) → biosphere and geospherePrompt: Name the two things involved: rock, water, air or living things?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which two spheres are interacting here: tree roots grow into cracks and split a rock? (biosphere and hydrosphere / hydrosphere and geosphere / biosphere and geosphere / geosphere and atmosphere) → biosphere and geospherePrompt: Name the two things involved: rock, water, air or living things?
  2. True or false? People are part of the biosphere. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Rock, water, air and life: which is which?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Land and water on Earth.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-5.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Earth's four spheres and how they interact

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    True or false? The spheres affect each other all the time.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Which two spheres are interacting here: waves crash against a cliff and wear it away?

    • A. biosphere and hydrosphere
    • B. hydrosphere and geosphere
    • C. biosphere and geosphere
    • D. hydrosphere and atmosphere

  3. Question 3

    Which of Earth's spheres does this belong to: lava from a volcano?

    • A. geosphere (rock and land)
    • B. hydrosphere (water)
    • C. atmosphere (air)
    • D. biosphere (living things)

  4. Question 4

    True or false? The biosphere is only animals.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Which two spheres are interacting here: tree roots grow into cracks and split a rock?

    • A. geosphere and atmosphere
    • B. biosphere and geosphere
    • C. biosphere and atmosphere
    • D. hydrosphere and geosphere

  6. Question 6

    Which of Earth's spheres does this belong to: water underground?

    • A. geosphere (rock and land)
    • B. hydrosphere (water)
    • C. atmosphere (air)
    • D. biosphere (living things)

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Answer key: Earth's four spheres and how they interact

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. B. hydrosphere and geosphere

  3. 3. A. geosphere (rock and land)

  4. 4. B. False

  5. 5. B. biosphere and geosphere

  6. 6. B. hydrosphere (water)