Institute for Global Environmental Strategies >> K-4 Spheres: Land

Topic(s):

Elementary (K-4), Lithosphere

Scenario:

The Land

Big rocks, little rocks, soil and sand.
These and more make up the land.

Rocks and pebbles lie around.
In the dirt and on the ground.

Soil for growing what we eat.
Fields of corn and rye and wheat.

Land has many habitats.
Caves in mountains, homes for bats.

In the desert, nice and hot.
Not a penguin vacation spot.

In the jungle, warm and damp.
Where the monkeys like to camp.

On the tundra, permafrost.
Why don't caribou get lost?.

Way up on the mountain top.
Live those sheep that like to hop.

In the trees and on the ground
Little insects run around.

Way down on the ocean floor.
Creepy crawlies and much more.

Land is where things live and grow.
Even people that I know.

In this module you will explore and learn about the land, the lithosphere, and its connections to other Earth spheres. The lithosphere contains all of the solid land of the Earth's crust, the semi-solid land underneath the crust and the liquid land near Earth's center.

Essential Questions about the Land

What do you know about land? What are your key questions? As you do the investigations, think about questions like these:

How do rocks change?

Where does soil come from?

How does the soil help plants grow?

What happens to plants when they die?

How do earthworms affect the soil?

Date: 7/25/2007

Scenario Images:

Under Our Feet
Image: clipart.com

Mountains
Image: clipart.com

Fields
Image: clipart.com

Mountains and Snow
Image: clipart.com

Rocks
Image: clipart.com

Resources:

Additional Resources (Cycle A)
Additional resources are provided in the sample investigations.

Earth Science Basics (Cycle A)
Need information about Earth's cycles, systems and processes? These resources are for you:

Visit an Earth Science Museum. Use the elevator to explore the different floors and learn about Earth's systems, cycles, dinosaurs and more. For kids and teachers.
K-4 Earth Science Modules. Four online modules for K-4 students and teachers that include information, games and hands-on investigations exploring biomes, weather and climate, remote sensing and Earth's systems.

Land Investigations Materials Lists (Cycle A)
A complete listing of all the Land investigations, materials needed, and ordering information.

Student Resources (Cycle A)

Soil Lists and explains the processes of physical weathering and characteristics of soil types.
The Rock Cycle Presents a complex process in simple terminology easily understood by young students.
Tour of Biomes A site for students that contains examples of Earth's many biomes.
Windows to the Universe for information about Earth and Space science. Great site for teachers, students and parents.
Globe Earth Science information and age appropriate resources.

Teacher Resources (Cycle A)

Weathering Explains weathering processes. Keyword search "weathering".
Soil Lists and explains the processes of physical weathering and characteristics of soil types.
The Rock Cycle Presents a complex process in simple terminology easily understood by young students.
AIMS. "Overhead and Underfoot". AIMS Education Foundation. Fresno, CA
Tour of Biomes A site for students that contains examples of Earth's many biomes.
Windows to the Universe for information about Earth and Space science. Great site for teachers, students and parents.
Globe Earth Science information and age appropriate resources.

Student Resources (Cycle B)

The Rock Cycle Presents a complex process in simple terminology easily understood by young students.
Tour of Biomes A site for students that contains examples of Earth's many biomes.

Teacher Resources (Cycle B)

Weathering Explains weathering processes. Keyword search "weathering".
Soil Explains the processes of physical weathering and characteristics of soil types.
The Rock Cycle Presents a complex process in simple terminology easily understood by young students.
Tour of Biomes A site for students that contains examples of Earth's many biomes.

Digital Library for Earth System Science (Cycle C)
The ultimate resource for Earth Science lesson plans, investigations and publications.

Teacher Resources (Cycle C)

The Evergreen Curriculum This Canadian site includes a curriculum guide for the elementary grades.
Our Mission to Planet Earth A Guide for Teaching Earth System Science

Sample Investigations:

Diggin' Dirt (Cycle A)
Explore rocks and soils in this Terrarium Habitats investigation.
Diggin' Dirt
Difficulty: beginner

Exploring Rocks (Cycle A)
Sort and classify rocks by the way they look and feel. Try to find out where they came from and why they look the way they do.
Exploring Rocks
Difficulty: beginner

The Little Rocks (Cycle A)
Mix rocks, sand and clay to make dirt. Then see what happens when you turn it into a mud pie.
The Little Rocks
Difficulty: beginner

More Land Questions (Cycle B)
Work with your teammates to answer each other's questions and these questions:

What rocks, sand, clay and soil do you have in your neighborhood?
What are they made of?
How did they get there?
Where are they going?
Why are they important to life?
How do the air, water, living organisms, and sun affect and interact with these materials?

Difficulty: beginner

Land Questions (Cycle C)
Design an investigation of your own that will help students ask and seek answers to questions like these:

What rocks, sand, clay and soil do you have in your neighborhood?
What are they made of?
How did they get there?
Where are they going?
Why are they important to life?
How do the air, water, living organisms, and sun affect and interact with these materials?