Unit Plan 27 (Grade 5 Science): Earth Systems — Quarter Synthesis

Focus: Connect Earth’s systems (geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere), water distribution, and human–environment relationships using models, graphs, and community examples.

Grade Level: 5

Subject Area: Science (Earth Systems • Earth & Human Activity)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students synthesize their learning about Earth’s systems, water on Earth, and human actions. They revisit models of the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere, explore graphs of Earth’s water reservoirs, and investigate how communities protect resources like water, soil, and air. By the end of the week, students will create an Earth Systems Synthesis Model and explanation that shows how interacting systems, water distribution, and human choices are all connected.

Essential Questions

• How do the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere interact and affect one another?
• How is water distributed on Earth, and why does that matter for people, plants, and animals?
• In what ways do communities use science ideas to protect water, land, and air?
• How can models and graphs help us explain relationships between Earth systems and human actions?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Develop and use a model that shows how the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere interact in at least one real-world example (e.g., river system, forest, city).
2. Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water in different Earth reservoirs (oceans, glaciers, groundwater, lakes, rivers, atmosphere) and explain why fresh water is limited.
3. Obtain and combine information about how local or global communities use science ideas to protect Earth’s resources (e.g., water conservation, pollution prevention, habitat protection).
4. Use graphs, models, and written explanations to connect Earth systems interactions, water distribution, and human actions that help or harm these systems.
5. Create an Earth Systems Synthesis Poster/Model that includes a systems diagram, a water distribution graph, and a short explanation of at least one community protection strategy.

Standards Alignment — 5th Grade (NGSS-Aligned)

• 5-ESS2-1 — Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
• 5-ESS2-2 — Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.
• 5-ESS3-1 — Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can draw and explain a model that shows how at least two Earth systems (like water, air, land, and living things) interact.
• I can read and create graphs that compare how much water is stored in oceans, ice, groundwater, and surface water.
• I can describe a real example of how a community uses science ideas to protect water, land, or air.
• I can connect our water distribution graphs and Earth systems model to human choices that help or hurt the environment.
• I can create and present an Earth Systems Synthesis Poster/Model that is clear, labeled, and supported with evidence.