Earth’s Spheres and Systems Science Station UNIT BUNDLE

These Earth’s Spheres and Systems Next Generation Science Stations include eight different science stations where students deepen their understanding of the Earth’s Spheres, the five layers of the atmosphere, the kingdoms in the biosphere, and the systems in the geosphere. The focus is on 5-ESS2-1.

Included in the Earth’s Spheres and Systems Science Stations UNIT BUNDLE

► Vocabulary Cards in two formats with and without pictures (only available in the BUNDLE)

► Big Idea Posters to display in your classroom (only available in the BUNDLE)

► Checklists for teachers and students (only available in the BUNDLE)

► Watch a Video – Students watch a video about the four spheres.  They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned. (Google Form™️ available)

► Play a Game – Students play a board game with other students. Another option is a crossword or word search puzzle. The crossword and word search puzzles are available digitally.

► Investigate Ocean Action –  Students read about the four spheres of Earth.  They learn about how the biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact with and create the landforms of the geosphere that we find along coasts.  Students investigate some mitigating factors people might consider to prevent coastal erosion and deposition problems. They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned. (Google Form™️ and Google Slides™️ are available)

► Diagram Ecosystems and the Hydrosphere –  Students read about how the hydrosphere interacts with each of the eight major ecosystems.  They introduce a change to a specific ecosystem and hypothesize the changes that will occur as a result.  They create a diagram of this based on their hypotheses.  Students then answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned. (Google Form™️ and Google Slides™️ are available)

► Read Earth’s Spheres – Students read about the different spheres of the Earth and how they affect each other.  They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned. (Google Form™️ is available)

► Model Landforms and the Biosphere – Students read about how landforms affect the types of organisms in different places.  They use models to conduct an investigation about this. (Google Form™️ and Google Slides™️ are available)

► Explore Mountains and Rain – Students read about how the geosphere affects the hydrosphere.  They explore this concept in a hands-on activity. They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned. (Google Form™️ and Google Slides™️ are available)

► Sort Four Spheres of Earth – Students read about the four spheres of Earth.  They sort several scenarios according to how each of the spheres affects other spheres.  They then answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.(Google Form™️ and Google Slides™️ are available)

Google Classroom™️ Components Include:

► Google Form™️ with Reading Passage & Differentiated Questions (for Watch, Investigate, Diagram, Read, Model, Explore and Sort)

► Google Slides™️ with Activity Directions & Worksheets (for Investigate, Diagram, Model, Explore, Sort)

Each station is designed to last about 15-20 minutes. Students may do one a day for eight days, two a day for four days, or any format that works for your classroom. Because there are additional activities for the Watch and Play stations, you can offer those as a choice within that station or offer them as an early finisher station, as well.

NGSS Alignment

As a Fifth Grade Performance Expectation, students are expected to “Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.”  (5-ESS2-1).  This correlates with the DCI 5-ESS2.A, which states, “Earth’s major systems are the geosphere (solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments), the hydrosphere (water and ice), the atmosphere (air), and the biosphere (living things, including humans). These systems interact in multiple ways to affect Earth’s surface materials and processes. The ocean supports a variety of ecosystems and organisms, shapes landforms, and influences climate. Winds and clouds in the atmosphere interact with the landforms to determine patterns of weather. ”  All stations in this set meet the Performance Expectation and DCI, helping students gain an understanding of how Earth’s spheres interact with each other, with respect to the systems that take place within each sphere.

The NGSS are three-dimensional. These stations meet:

• Performance Expectation: 5-ESS2-1
• Disciplinary Core Ideas: ESS2.A: Earth Materials and System
• Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models
• Crossing Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models