Grade 5 · Science · Lesson 27

Earth's Spheres & Systems

Earth is one big system, but scientists divide it into four overlapping parts called spheres. Each sphere is made of different materials and does a different job. The spheres are not separate boxes — they touch and trade with each other every second of the day. When you understand the spheres, you can explain almost any event on Earth, from a thunderstorm to a forest fire.

What this lesson teaches

1Name the four main spheres of the Earth system
2Describe what each sphere is made of and what it does
3Locate each sphere on a diagram of Earth
4Explain how the spheres interact to shape Earth

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