Earth is made up of five major parts or subsystems: the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, and Geosphere. Each major part is connected to the other parts in a complex web of processes.

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

Examine (daytime) surface temperature and solar radiation received at locations found near similar latitudes using NASA Data.

 Air, Water, Land, & Life: A Global Perspective

My NASA Data has recently released several new resources, StoryMaps, for use in educational settings.

Students collect and analyze temperature data to explore what governs how much energy is reflected. 

Explore the energy and matter cycles found within the Earth System. 

Students use albedo values of common surfaces along with photographic images of Earth taken from the International Space Station to make an argument about specific anthropogenic activities that impact Earth’s albedo.

This lesson contains a card sort activity that challenges students to predict relative albedo values of common surfaces. 

To investigate the different rates of heating and cooling of certain materials on earth in order to understand the heating dynamics that take place in the Earth’s atmosphere.