1. 8th Grade – The Dynamic Earth
Unit 1 – Earth’s Surface

2. Unit 1 – Earth’s Surface Lesson 1 – Earth’s Spheres

3. Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
The earth as a system
System = a group of related objects or parts that work together to form a whole.
Earth system = all of the matter, energy, and processes within Earth’s boundary.
Earth is a complex system made of living and nonliving things, and matter and energy continuously cycle through the smaller systems.
Intro to Geosphere and Biosphere -
Stop at 2:21- do Geosphere and Biosphere notes, then do Investigation (the rest of the video)
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4. Geosphere Mostly solid, rocky part of Earth.
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
Geosphere
Mostly solid, rocky part of Earth.
extends from the center of Earth to the surface of Earth.
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5. Geosphere Crust - thin, outermost layer of the geosphere
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
Geosphere
Crust - thin, outermost layer of the geosphere
mostly silicate minerals.
Oceanic crust - 5 to 10 km thick.
Continental crust - 35 to 70 km thick.
Mantle - layer that lies below the crust.
about 2,900 km thick.
made of very slow-flowing, solid rock, consisting of silicate minerals that are denser than the silicates in the crust.
Core – central part
radius of about 3,500 km.
made of iron and nickel
very dense.
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6. Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
What is the geosphere?
Describe the characteristics of the layers of Earth.
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7. Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
Biosphere
Made up of living things and the areas of Earth where they are found.
Usually need oxygen or carbon dioxide to carry out life processes.
Also need liquid water, moderate temperatures, and a stable source of energy
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8. Cryosphere Made up of all of the frozen water on Earth.
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
Cryosphere
Made up of all of the frozen water on Earth.
Snow, ice, sea ice, glaciers, ice shelves, icebergs, and permafrost
Changes in the cryosphere can play an important role in Earth’s climate and
species’ survival.
Intro to Hydrosphere and Atmosphere -
Stop at 2:25, then take notes, then do Investigation (rest of video)
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9. Hydrosphere Part of Earth that is liquid water.
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
Hydrosphere
Part of Earth that is liquid water.
Oceans, lakes, rivers, marshes, groundwater, rain, & water droplets in clouds.
Constantly moving
Within oceans – currents
Between spheres
In & out of living things
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11. Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
Atmosphere read pg. 10
Mixture of mostly invisible gases that surround Earth.
Most gasses are 8-50 km above earth
BUT atmosphere goes km up
About 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases like argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
contains the air we breathe
traps some energy from the sun -helps keep Earth warm enough for living things to survive and multiply
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12. Atmosphere (continued)
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
Atmosphere (continued)
Absorbs and reflects harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, protecting Earth
Causes space debris to burn up before hitting Earth (meteors).
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13. What’s the Matter? How do Earth’s spheres interact?
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Earth’s Spheres
What’s the Matter?
How do Earth’s spheres interact?
All of the five spheres of Earth interact as matter and energy change and cycle through the system.
A result of these interactions is that they make life on Earth possible.
– Big Idea 3 – Earth is a Complex system of earth, water, air and life
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