National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
SPHERES OF EARTH
An Introduction to Making Observations of Earth Using an
Earth System Science Approach
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
SPHERES OF EARTH
An Introduction to Making Observations of Earth Using an
Earth System Science Approach
Written and Developed by:
Paige Valderrama Graff
Science Education Specialist, Expedition Earth and Beyond Director
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Directorate
ARES Education Program, NASA Johnson Space Center
JACOBS ‐ Engineering Science Contract Group (ESCG)
Edited by the following educators and scientists within the
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Directorate
at the NASA Johnson Space Center:
Marshalyn Baker, Classroom Teacher
Trevor Graff, Planetary Scientist
Charlie Lindgren, Classroom Teacher
Michele Mailhot, Classroom Teacher
Tim McCollum, Classroom Teacher
Susan Runco, Physical Scientist
William Stefanov, Senior Geoscientist
Kim Willis, Principal Geoscientist
Front cover images courtesy of the ARES Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA JSC.
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
© 2010 Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Education Program.
All rights reserved. This document may be freely distributed for non‐commercial use only.
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
SPHERES OF EARTH
Part 1: Systems and Features
Earth is a diverse planet. What makes up our planet and how does it work? Earth System Science is
one way to think about the different parts or systems that make up Earth as a whole. In the first part
of this activity you will think about Earth systems and the different features that can be associated with
those systems. To help you get started, let’s first look at an example using the human body.
...