Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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.
- 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.
- About 97.5% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 2.5 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
- Which landform is described: a long channel of moving fresh water? (mountain / valley / island / river) → riverPrompt: Is it high land, low land, land in water, or moving water?
Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 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?
- Which two spheres are interacting here: tree roots grow into cracks and split a rock? (biosphere and atmosphere / biosphere and geosphere / hydrosphere and geosphere / hydrosphere and atmosphere) → biosphere and geospherePrompt: Name the two things involved: rock, water, air or living things?
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- True or false? The spheres never interact. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Rock, water, air and life: which is which?
- Which two spheres are interacting here: fish breathe oxygen dissolved in a lake? (biosphere and atmosphere / hydrosphere and geosphere / biosphere and hydrosphere / hydrosphere and atmosphere) → biosphere and hydrospherePrompt: Name the two things involved: rock, water, air or living things?
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