GUESS THE

GIBBERISH
MECHANICS:
1. In this game, we have 10
rounds and you have 10
seconds for each one.
2. Try to guess the word from the
unintelligible phrases.
BYE YOUTHS
PEAR
BIOSPHERE
OUT TEAR
CHORE
OUTER CORE
 NIGHT
THROUGH GENE

NITROGEN
AT MOSS FEAR

ATMOSPHERE
SWAB SEIZE
TEAM
SUBSYSTEM
OX SEA GIN

OXYGEN
INN NEAR
COAR
INNER CORE
GEE USE PEER

GEOSPHERE
EH QUO CYST
THEM
ECOSYSTEM
 HI DRAWS
FARE
HYDROSPHERE
MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
AT THE END OF THE LESSON, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
1. DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EARTH THAT ARE
NECESSARY TO SUPPORT LIFE
2. EXPLAIN THAT THE EARTH CONSISTS OF FOUR
SUBSYSTEMS, ACROSS WHOSE BOUNDARIES MATTER
AND ENERGY FLOW
WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT EARTH’S SPHERES?
THE ATMOSPHERE
The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air,
which we call the atmosphere.
• The atmosphere consists of four unique
layers (the troposphere, the stratosphere,
the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and
the exosphere).
• The atmosphere reaches over 350 miles
up from the surface of the Earth.
• The atmosphere is primarily composed of
nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about
21%). Other components exist in small
quantities.
THE BIOSPHERE
The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes
all living organisms (including humans), and all organic
matter that has not yet decomposed.
• The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as a
food chain.
• Energy and nutrients, like carbon, are transferred from one
level of the food chain to the next.
HYDROSPHERE
The hydrosphere contains all the water found on
our planet.
• Surface Water: Includes the ocean as well as water
from lakes, rivers and creeks.
• Ground Water: Includes water trapped in the soil
and groundwater.
• Atmosphere: water vapor.
• Frozen water: Includes ice caps and glaciers. Also
called the cryosphere.
• Only about 3% of the water on Earth is “fresh”
water, and about 70% of the fresh water is frozen in
the form of glacial ice. (0.9% in liquid form)
GEOSPHERE
The geosphere is the solid
part of the earth, from the
core to the surface.
• Includes volcanoes, rocks,
minerals, coal, oil etc.
•Mineral resources are mined
from the geosphere.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE
Earth System Science is the
study of how the four spheres
of the Earth system interact
continually, each affecting the
others.

Example: A scientist that

studies global warming is
an Earth System Scientist.
SYSTEM INTERACTIONS
Volcanoes erupt, sending ash and gases into
the air and sending lava and ash down onto
surrounding forests and human habitations.

Geosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere
SYSTEM INTERACTIONS
Hurricanes sweep across the ocean
and onto the land, damaging the
dwellings of people who live along
the coast.
Hydrosphere

Atmosphere Geosphere

Biosphere
SYSTEM INTERACTIONS
Earthquakes can damage buildings which may kill
people, as well as cause fires which release gases
into the air. Earthquakes in the ocean may
cause a tsunami which can eventually hit land
and kill both animals and people.

Biosphere

Geosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
ACTIVITY!
The human population has increased rapidly since the 1700’s. For most
of human history, there were fewer than half-billion people on Earth. In
mid2009, 6.7 billion people inhabited our planet. Because of these,
extensive pollution is everywhere. As a student, what can you do to
save not only a particular system, but the Earth itself? Tabulate your
answer on a separate sheet of paper . Copy the template below.
MY ENVIRONMENTAL TO DO LIST
1. ATMOSPHERE
2. BIOSPHERE
3. HYDROSPHERE
4. GEOSPHERE
5. EARTH
ASSIGNMENT

•MAKE A CONCEPT MAP AND USE IT TO EXPLAIN HOW THE

GEOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, ATMOSPHERE, AND
BIOSPHERE ARE INTERCONNECTED.