Energy powers the transformation and movement of matter in all Earth system processes. Earth’s major cycles connecting matter found within the different spheres include the energy cycle, the water cycle, and the cycles of important individual elements (e.g., carbon and nitrogen).
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Featured Mini Lessons
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Grade Level: 6-8
Students review a visualization showing a global view of the top-of-atmosphere longwave radiation from January 26 and 27, 2012. They review the supporting text and analyze the data in the visualization to answer questions.
Grade Level: 6-8
This NASA visualization shows sea surface salinity observations (September 2011-September 2014). Students review the video and answer questions.
Grade Level: 6-8
Students review the NASA video showing biosphere data over the North Atlantic Ocean as a time series animation displaying a decade of phytoplankton blooms and answer questions.
Grade Level: 6-8
Students review a video showing how the ocean is warmed by solar energy. This is the first video of a four-part series on the water cycle, which follows the journey of water from the ocean to the atmosphere, to the land, and back again to the ocean.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
This mini lesson engages students in watching a NASA video related to accumulated dust that makes the trans-Atlantic journey from the Sahara Desert to the Amazon rainforest using NASA's CALIPSO satellite.
Grade Level: 6-8
Students review a video showing a global view of the top-of-atmosphere shortwave radiation from January 26 and 27, 2012 and answer the questions that follow.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
This mini lesson focuses on Earth's Energy Budget and the surface effects that occur in Central Australia. Students review a line graph depicting net radiation in Central Australia related to a multiyear drought from 2002 - 2009 and answer the questions.
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Grade Level: 6-8
Students review a visualization showing a global view of the top-of-atmosphere longwave radiation from January 26 and 27, 2012. They review the supporting text and analyze the data in the visualization to answer questions.
Grade Level: 6-8
This NASA visualization shows sea surface salinity observations (September 2011-September 2014). Students review the video and answer questions.
Grade Level: 6-8
Students review the NASA video showing biosphere data over the North Atlantic Ocean as a time series animation displaying a decade of phytoplankton blooms and answer questions.
Grade Level: 6-8
Students review a video showing how the ocean is warmed by solar energy. This is the first video of a four-part series on the water cycle, which follows the journey of water from the ocean to the atmosphere, to the land, and back again to the ocean.
Grade Level: 6-8,
9-12
This mini lesson engages students in watching a NASA video related to accumulated dust that makes the trans-Atlantic journey from the Sahara Desert to the Amazon rainforest using NASA's CALIPSO satellite.
Grade Level: 6-8
Students review a video showing a global view of the top-of-atmosphere shortwave radiation from January 26 and 27, 2012 and answer the questions that follow.
Grade Level: 6-8,
9-12
This mini lesson focuses on Earth's Energy Budget and the surface effects that occur in Central Australia. Students review a line graph depicting net radiation in Central Australia related to a multiyear drought from 2002 - 2009 and answer the questions.
Grade Level: 6-8,
9-12
Students analyze surface air temperature anomalies to identify change with respect to different latitudes across the world.
Grade Level: 3-5,
6-8,
9-12
Students observe monthly images of changing vegetation patterns, looking for seasonal changes occurring throughout 2017. These data can be used by students to develop their own models of change.
Grade Level: 6-8
Students observe seasonal images of Monthly Normalized Difference Vegetation, looking for any changes in vegetation that are occurring throughout the year. They put the images in order based on what they know about seasonal changes.
Energy and Matter landing page. Explore maps, graphs, data, and related education resources. These resources include lesson plans, mini lessons, activities, and datasets for teachers and students.