Earth’s Atmosphere Activities for Upper Elementary Students

Looking for engaging atmosphere activities for your elementary students? These hands-on ideas help students explore how Earth’s atmosphere works, from air pressure and weather to cloud formation.

With the right hands-on activities, students can explore concepts like air pressure, weather, and cloud formation in a meaningful way. From simple experiments using everyday materials to more in-depth investigations, these atmosphere activities help students build understanding while staying actively engaged.

What is the Earth’s Atmosphere?

The atmosphere is the air sphere that envelopes our planet. The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of different gases that help keep us safe. These gases include oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. All of these gases are important for life on Earth as they help protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and keep our planet warm.

The Earth’s atmosphere also helps to circulate air around the world so that we can breathe. Without the atmosphere, life on Earth would not be possible!

The Earth’s atmosphere has a series of layers, each with its own attributes. The four main layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

• Troposphere: This is the lowest layer and the layer in which we live.
• Stratosphere: This is the next layer, where passenger airplanes fly.
• Mesosphere: In this layer, the air is too thin to breathe.
• Thermosphere: This layer absorbs radiation from the Sun and extends into outer space. Many satellites orbit the Earth in this layer.

Atmosphere Layers Video (Intro Activity)

In this educational video about the atmosphere, students can learn about the outermost layer of the Earth. Students will learn what the atmosphere is made up of and why it is essential for life on our planet. This video is a great introduction or engagement activity to any of the activities below.

Hands-On Atmosphere Activities for Upper Elementary Students

These atmosphere activities help students explore air pressure, weather patterns, and how the atmosphere interacts with other Earth systems.

Through the following hands-on activities, students will gain insights into the air pressure, weather patterns, and the factors influencing our climate.

Activities such as investigating air quality and building models of atmospheric layers provide an environmentally friendly approach to learning about the atmosphere’s effects on other spheres. These activities were chosen with upper-elementary students in mind.

Air Quality Investigation (Atmosphere Activity)

This atmosphere activity helps students understand how air pollution affects both the environment and human health.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Data Collection

Have students research the Air Quality Index (AQI) in their local area by using online resources or local environmental agencies. They can collect daily or weekly AQI data and record it in a table or chart. Extend the task by having students examine data from several cities across the country and across seasons to identify trends in air quality.

Engage students in a discussion about the factors contributing to poor air quality, such as vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and burning fossil fuels. Encourage them to brainstorm ways individuals and communities can improve air quality. For instance, communities can contribute to clean air by walking or biking to school, reducing energy consumption, using public transportation, or planting trees.

By focusing on understanding air quality issues and promoting environmentally friendly behaviors, this activity helps students develop a sense of responsibility and empowers them to take action to clean up their community’s air.

Pollution Reading Passage & Comprehension Activities

This pollution reading passage and comprehension activities will help your learners understand three different types of pollution. Included is air pollution. The focus of the included comprehension activities is cause and effect, as well as the main idea and details.

Atmosphere Science Station Activities

If you want structured atmosphere activities, these science stations include:

• reading passages about weather and atmospheric tools
• hands-on investigations
• worksheets and recording pages
• differentiated questions

These stations are designed for upper-elementary students and make it easy to teach atmospheric concepts in a consistent format.

Earth’s Atmosphere Layering Activity

This easy and fun atmosphere science activity for kids is a great way for students to learn about the five layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. It uses liquids to teach about layering and is a clear, visual representation of what happens in the sky above us. Click here to access the post.

More Hands-on Activities about the Atmosphere Layer

This website from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Center for Science Education has 16 more activities about the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The directions for each activity include the learning objective, materials, and student-friendly directions, but pictures are not available. Each activity is correlated with the NGSS.

The Forces of Change website offers 8 activities designed for middle school students, with accommodations for younger learners and potential modifications for 5th grade. The PDF activities include some background knowledge and activity directions. Elementary students will need support with the directions.

A Complete Unit of 5th Grade Science Activities about Earth’s Spheres and Systems

If you want a complete set of ready-to-use lessons, check out these Earth’s spheres science stations that include hydrosphere-focused activities and more.