WHAT AM I?

TERRARIUM
is a glass vessel
that contains
plants and soil,
creating a
miniature
ecosystem.
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/mini-garden/
 What does the Terrarium represents?
a scene in nature, a miniature ecosystem.

What are the components of a terrarium?

micro-/macro organisms
soil
plants Air and water

How each of the components related to Earth Subsystem?

The earth system is itself an integrated system, but it can be subdivided into four main
components, sub-systems or spheres: the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and
biosphere.

https://smartgardenguide.com/how-does-a-terrarium-work/
Earth’s
EARTH SUBSYSTEM

ATMOSPHERE-gaseous envelope
GEOSPHERE-solid component
BIOSPHERE-living component
HYDROSPHERE-water portion
CRYOSPHERE-ice/glaciers
GEOSPHERE
MISCONCEPCION ALERT!

includes all rocks, sediments and soils, surface

The Geosphere is a major sphere of
the Earth that deals with the solid

landforms and the processes that shape the Earth's

components, such as landforms,
rocks, and layers of the Earth. It is

surface. not Lithosphere.

Depth 6400km
94% of the solid Earth is made up of the following
elements
The movement creates continents, oceans, and their
landforms through a process called Plate Tectonics.
The Earth System interacts with the Geosphere in the following ways:
Makes up 71% of Earth’s
surface
Freshwater found in
glaciers, rivers, streams,
lakes, acquifers and
streams
Groundwater
CRYOSPHERE
is associated with living systems such as
biomes or ecosystems.
Each ecosystem is composed of an intricate set
of species adapted to prevailing conditions,
from below ocean floors, to the land surface,
to above the highest mountains. It includes life
forms ranging in size from microscopic bacteria
to the gargantuan blue whale.
ANTHROPOSPHERE- human sphere
 ATMOSPHERE
Thin, gaseous envelope
Components: nitrogen, oxygen
and trace gases
Water vapor and aerosols are the
variable components for weather
and climate
Layers: troposphere,
stratosphere, mesosphere and
thermosphere, exosphere
How
system
works
Energy
flows
 Powered by two
sources of
energy
Biogeochemical cycles

Three of the key biogeochemical cycles are

the nitrogen, carbon and sulphur cycles.

 cycles occur in closed systems

 key materials that cycle through the major
biogeochemical cycles
 components
Individual Work 1:
Materials:

Any clean recyclable materials Coloring materials/art materials

Adhesives
Procedures:
1. Using the recyclable materials, conceptualize your own model of the Earth
Subsystem.
2. Construct your Earths Subsystem. Make sure that the difference between
each layer will be clear in your own model.
3. In a clean sheet of paper. Explain your work.
Rubric
Content-50 points
Organization-25 points
Presentation-25 points
Group Work 1: Your place or mine?
TERRARIUM PROJECT
You will create a terarrium that displays some/all of the Earth’s spheres. PLEASE do not purchase anything, this
assignment can be done with junk, drawn pictures, etc. Creativity is part of the project. You must glue a
description onto the back/bottom of your terrarium and it should include the provided vocabulary words and a
summary of the sphere. Your description should explain which parts of your display belong to which sphere and
what the sphere is.
What is a terrarium? Terrariums are miniature gardens housed inside small – and usually sealable – glass
containers.

OBJECTIVE: Students will:  Understand the concept of a “system” as it applies to Earth;  Identify the 4
spheres of the Earth system;  Identify and analyze how matter and energy change and cycle through the
system as the spheres interact and  Analyze an event and present their findings to the class.

MATERIALS:  Example image of Earth system  List of cause and effect relationships  Computer or research
materials access
PART 1 PART 2
Thank You!