We Can't Live Without It!

Earth is made up of four complex systems that are driven by the Sun’s energy. From the geosphere (rock and sediments of Earth’s surface) and the hydrosphere (frozen and liquid water), to the atmosphere (air) and biosphere (living things), Earth’s four systems require energy from the Sun to work! Without the Sun’s energy, the atmosphere wouldn’t be able to trap in heat and regulate temperature, drive the cycling of water through the hydrosphere, warm Earth’s rocky surface, or provide a source of energy for plants and animals! In this lesson, students will engage in a variety of hands-on and visual investigations in order to explain that the Sun is the primary source of energy impacting all of Earth’s systems.