Due to the lapse in federal government funding, NASA is not updating this website. We sincerely regret this inconvenience.

Browse Earth Systems Resources

Browse Earth Systems Resources

Exploring the Water Cycle

Exploring the Water Cycle
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.C
Keywords: 
Solar Radiation, transpiration, evaporation, infiltration
Summary: 
In this lesson, students will learn about the water cycle and how energy from the sun and the force of gravity drive this cycle.

"Survivor: Earth" Lesson Plan Series

"Survivor: Earth" Lesson Plan Series
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Precipitation, Earth Systems, Water & Life, Satellites, Remote Sensing
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5, General
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, conservation, Earth systems
Summary: 
These original GPM lessons have been developed to teach students about local and global water issues. . They are hands on activities that are done largely outdoors, and which include scientific data collection and analysis and integrate technology.

Water Falls Post-Visit Lesson

Satellite image of Hurricane Guillaume
Primary Topic: 
Weather and Climate
Subtopics: 
Water Cycle, Earth Systems, Weather, Tropical Cyclones, Satellites
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8
Standards: 
ESS2.C
Keywords: 
rain gauges, hot towers, natural hazards
Summary: 
In this lesson, students will learn about hurricanes as a natural hazard. They will learn about technologies that have been developed to mitigate their devastating effects.

Water in the Geosphere

Water in the Geosphere
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
geosphere, soil, abiotic
Summary: 
This lesson helps students learn about the geosphere by making observations and collecting data.

Water in the Biosphere

Water in the Biosphere
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Water & Life
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C, ESS2.D, ESS2.E
Keywords: 
biosphere, land cover, plants, biotic
Summary: 
This lesson helps students learn about the biosphere by making observations and using a dichotomous key.

Water in Earth's Hydrosphere

Water in Earth's Hydrosphere
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems, Water & Life
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Keywords: 
hydrosphere, transparency, hydrology, surface water, stream
Summary: 
This lesson helps students learn about the hydrosphere by making observations and collecting data.

Water Falls Pre-Visit Lesson

Water Falls logo
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8
Standards: 
ESS2.C
Keywords: 
Reservoir, freshwater, Solar Radiation, Phase change
Summary: 
In this lesson, students will learn about the water cycle. The lesson is intended to be use by teachers before they take their students to view the Science On a Sphere movie, “Water Falls.”

The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere
Summary: 
This activity was developed to give participants an understanding of Earth’s water cycle by completing a webquest and building a model of the water cycle.

Earth's Water

Photo of Earth's oceans from space
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Water & Life, Freshwater Resources
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
freshwater, blue marble, glaciers
Summary: 
This activity was developed to give participants an understanding of how much and where water is on Earth by participating in a demonstration and using maps.

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions

Connect the Spheres: Earth Systems Interactions
Primary Topic: 
Water Cycle
Subtopics: 
Earth Systems, Water & Life
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, K - 5
Standards: 
ESS2.A, ESS2.C
Keywords: 
hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere
Summary: 
This activity was developed to give participants an understanding of Earth’s four spheres and how they are connected.

Pages