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Science Launch G5 / Week 09 / Launch Lab
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Week 09 · Earth's Systems

Launch Lab

Launch Lab: System spotters
// Rock, water, air and life working together
⏱ about 15 min

Launch Lab: System spotters

Raven hands out four colored crayons: brown, blue, white and green. "Today we spot systems on a family walk," she says.

"Brown for geosphere, blue for hydrosphere, white for atmosphere, green for biosphere," she explains.

Rocket is already pointing. "Puddle, blue! Tree, green! Sidewalk, brown!"

Nova laughs her chiming laugh. "Bonus points for finding two colors touching," she says. "That is an interaction."

  1. Earth has four major systems: geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.
  2. The systems interact. Water shapes rock, plants change the air, mountains change clouds.
  3. Weathering breaks rock. Erosion carries sediment away by wind or water.
  4. Plant cover helps protect soil from erosion.
◇ SYSTEM SPOTTERS WALK
Take a short walk around your home or neighborhood with a grown-up.
Make four columns on paper with the four system names.
Write each thing you see in the right column.
Find two things from different systems that are interacting.
Circle your favorite interaction.
For a grown-up
Ask: what did you notice? What would you change?
Stay together on sidewalks or paths, and choose a safe, familiar route.
WEEK CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A tree's roots grow into the soil. Which systems interact?
Which hill lost more soil in Wednesday's model?
The system that includes air is the ____.
Breaking rock into smaller pieces is called ____.
Which system includes water and ice? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEThe hydrosphere includes water and ice.

Next week we zoom in on the hydrosphere. How much of Earth's water is fresh?

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