What does the word interact mean? CATALYST (5 MINUTES) *GET OUT A NEW CATALYST SHEET AND BEING WRITING THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: What are some aspects of nature that you see as you look outside around Memphis? Do all places on Earth have the same kind of nature as Memphis? Describe some different places that you know of. What does the word interact mean? (i.e. “We worked in a group today in reading class. We all had to interact to complete our assignment”)

THE EARTH IS A SYSTEM! A system is an organized groups of parts that work together to form a whole. A terrarium and the Earth are examples of closed systems, because matter cannot enter or leave!

ATMOSPHERE: THE EARTH’S AIR! The atmosphere is the mixture of gases and particles that surround and protect the surface of Earth.

HYDROSPHERE: THE EARTH’S WATER! The hydrosphere is made up of all the water on Earth in oceans, lakes, glaciers, rivers and streams, and underground.

WATER COVERS NEARLY THREE-FOURTHS OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE!

THE BIOSPHERE: THE EARTH’S LIVING THINGS! The biosphere includes all life on Earth, in the air, on the land, and in the waters.

LARGE FORESTS ACTS AS EARTH’S “LUNGS,” ABSORBING CARBON DIOXIDE AND RELEASING OXYGEN INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

WHEN DEAD TREES DECAY, THEY RETURN NUTRIENTS BACK INTO THE SOIL.

THE GEOSPHERE: THE EARTH’S SURFACE! The geosphere includes all the features on the Earth’s surface – the continents, islands, and sea floor – and everything below the surface.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING Identify the following examples as one of the four parts of the Earth’s system …

FISH

ROCKS & SOIL

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER