Image showing all four Earth spheres of the Chesapeake Bay.
Grade 5
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most unique estuaries in all of the United States. When most people think of the Bay, they mainly think of water, which is part of Earth’s hydrosphere. However, the Bay is so much more than that. All of the Earth’s spheres – the hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere – interact in the Bay ecosystem. We will explore these system interactions in this lesson.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
I can describe the many types of interactions among Earth systems within the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
Spot the Part of Each Earth Sphere in the Bay
Use the video clips provided above or search another online clip that shows a variety of parts of the Chesapeake Bay. Using the model provided, have students label the images in the clip that they see that are part of the atmosphere, the biosphere, geosphere, and the atmosphere.
Chesapeake Bay - Earth Sphere Interactions
Have students complete the graphic organizer in which they will show interactions among the Earth spheres in the Chesapeake Bay. (An example of a completed graphic organizer can be found in the .pdf).
Scenes from the Chesapeake Bay
Analyze the four photos from the Chesapeake Bay. Have students label the objects or scenes of the images that are part of the atmosphere, the biosphere, the geosphere, and the hydrosphere.
This learning resource is a production of Maryland Public Television/Thinkport.