This short video introduces students to the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere using a combination of cartoon graphics, pictures, and a human narrator.
The video focuses on the geosphere and biosphere and the difference between the two spheres.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The explanation of the Earth's spheres is clear and concise.
The video breaks down the words biosphere and geosphere into their scientific prefixes and root words to help build scientific literacy.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the basic concept that geology is the study of Earth materials and biology is the study of living things.
There may be an ad before the video.
Differentiation
Students could watch the video in pairs and draw a picture of the biosphere and geosphere to demonstrate their understanding.
The video uses illustrated examples in which students can test their knowledge of the difference between the biosphere and geosphere.
Other recommended resources include the second video in the four spheres series and this video on ecosystems.
Scientist Notes
This video introduces the spheres in the Earth's systems. It is insightful to know the different physical features and how to categorize them into the four spheres (geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere). This resource is elementary and recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
5-ESS2-1 Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
5-LS2-1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.