Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to explain the structure of Earth, identify

the components of the Earth's crust, and describe the composition and importance of Earth's
atmosphere.

Assessment: Students will complete a worksheet that requires them to label the layers of the Earth,
identify the components of the Earth's crust, and answer questions about the Earth's atmosphere.

Key Points:

- Earth is composed of several layers, including the crust, mantle, and core.

- The Earth's crust is the outermost layer and is made up of solid rock.

- The atmosphere is a layer of gases that surrounds the Earth and is held in place by gravity.

- The atmosphere is composed of different gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and
trace amounts of other gases.

- The atmosphere plays a vital role in protecting and supporting life on Earth.

Opening: Begin the lesson by showing students a picture of the Earth and asking them to share what
they already know about the Earth and its structure. Then, ask them to discuss why it is important to
study the Earth and its atmosphere.

Introduction to New Material: Use a visual aid, such as a diagram or a model, to explain the structure
of the Earth and highlight the different layers. Emphasize the Earth's crust and explain that it is the
thin outermost layer of the Earth. Address the common misconception that the Earth's crust is just
one solid piece.

Guided Practice: Provide students with a worksheet that includes diagrams of the Earth and its
layers. Guide them through labelling the layers and identifying the components of the Earth's crust.
Scaffold questioning by starting with easier questions and gradually increasing the difficulty. Monitor
student performance by circulating around the classroom, offering assistance, and checking for
understanding.

Independent Practice: Assign students a writing assignment where they have to write a paragraph
describing the composition and importance of Earth's atmosphere. Provide clear behavioral
expectations for the work time and encourage students to use their notes and the information
discussed in class. The assignment should demonstrate mastery of the objective.
Closing: Have students share their written paragraphs with a partner or in small groups. Then, as a
whole class, summarize the key points discussed in the lesson about Earth's structure, the
components of the crust, and the importance of the atmosphere.

Extension Activity: For students who finish early, provide them with additional resources, such as
articles or videos, to explore more about the Earth's structure and atmosphere. They can create a
poster or presentation to share their findings with the class.

Homework: As a homework activity, students can research and create a diagram illustrating the
layers of the Earth and the components of the crust. They can also write a short paragraph
explaining the significance of Earth's atmosphere.

Standards Addressed:

1. Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): MS-ESS2-1 - Develop a model to describe the cycling
of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.

2. International Baccalaureate (IB) - Science: Standard B.2 - Use scientific inquiry and analysis to
evaluate evidence and explanations and construct, revise, and/or use models to predict and/or
explain phenomena.