Mini Lesson/Activity

Earth System Energy Travels

Overview

Students will analyze a pie chart (circle graph) showing the distribution of different parts of the Earth system the in absorption and reflection of energy.

Student Directions

Overview:

This lesson is designed to help students identify where incoming solar energy goes once it enters the Earth system by analyzing a pie chart to assess relative distribution.

Once the Sun’s energy enters into the Earth System, it travels among the spheres. This pie chart (circle graph) represents all the energy coming from the Sun and where it travels along its path.

Incoming Solar Radiation Circle Graph showing 6% reflected by atmosphere, 20% reflected by clouds, 4% reflected by Earth's surface, 16% absorbed by the atmosphere, 3% absorbed by clouds and 51% absorbed by land and oceans — Incoming Solar Radiation Distribution, https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pie%20Charts%20EEB.png, Image Credit: My NASA Data

Student Directions:

Analyze the pie chart and answer the questions below.

What can happen to the energy as it travels through the Earth system?
Where does the largest percentage of energy go in the Earth system?
What kinds of ways is the energy used once it enters the Earth system (i.e., Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere, etc.)?
What is the role of the atmosphere (including clouds) as it relates to Earth’s energy?

Teacher Note

Teachers, these mini lessons/student activities are perfect "warm up" tasks that can be used as a hook, bell ringer, exit slip, etc. They take less than a class period to complete. Learn more on the "My NASA Data What are Mini Lessons?" page.

Teachers who are interested in receiving the answer key, please complete the Teacher Key Request and Verification Form. We verify that requestors are teachers prior to sending access to the answer keys as we’ve had many students try to pass as teachers to gain access.

Supported NGSS Performance Expectations

5-ESS2-1: Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
MS-ESS2-1: Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
MS-PS4-2: Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

Supported Common Core Math

CC.6.RP.3c Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 30/100 times the quantity); solve problems involving finding the whole given a part and the percent.
CC.7.RP.2 Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems. Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.

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