The purpose of this activity is for students to create a desktop soil profile based on the biome region of the United States where your school is located.

Through guided inquiry, students will identify interactions of the four major scientific spheres on Earth: biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere. They will then identify how these systems are represented and interact in their classroom aquarium.

Interpret the map, or model, to find patterns in the occurrence of tropical cyclones from 1842 through 2018.

Students interpret a double bar/column chart comparing the number of tropical cyclones in different locations.

The advance-and-retreat cycle of snow cover drastically changes the whiteness and brightness of Earth. Using two maps created using NASA satellite data for 2017, students review the seasonal differences of snow and ice extent and answer questions on their observations.

Learn about volcanic ash and watch a visualization of the Calbuco volcano to see how ash travels around the world. 

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.

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.

NASA visualizers take data – numbers, codes – and turn them into animations people can see and quickly understand.

This lesson introduces the Earth system science spheres through model making and discussion.