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Earth has different parts that work together to keep Earth in balance. The geosphere is the rocky part of Earth. The atmosphere contains all the air. The biosphere is made of all the living things. The hydrosphere consists of all the liquid water, snow, and ice. The magnetosphere includes the magnetic field surrounding Earth. All of these parts are needed for life to exist. Rain and snow in the hydrosphere give water to plants and animals. Plants take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and change it into oxygen. Animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. The magnetosphere lets just enough of the Sun's energy through to keep plants and animals alive. When all these parts of Earth are in balance, plants and animals can stay alive and healthy. But it is possible for Earth to become unbalanced. If there is too much carbon dioxide in the air and not enough plants to change it to oxygen, weather patterns can change. Too much carbon dioxide also makes oceans become less healthy for fish. If too much ice melts, sea levels can rise, leaving less land for plants and animals to live on. We can help keep Earth in balance by cleaning the air and the water. We can choose to use products that are Earth friendly, use fewer plastics, and recycle. Everyone can help!
Pronunciation guide. 24 pages filled with engaging, colorful illustrations. Reading Level 1-3, Interest Level 2-5, Word count 402, Lexile measure 600L.
About the author
Dr. Rebecca Woodbury received her Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry from the University of New Mexico in 1992. She was awarded a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of New Mexico, followed by a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.While home schooling her three children, Dr. Woodbury was unable to find a curriculum that provided a solid foundation in science. She left academia, and using her scientific background coupled with her love of learning, she developed a series of science books for kids.The Real Science-4-Kids curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in science and gives them the tools to evaluate scientific data on their own. "We should not rely on the 'experts' but instead learn how to critically evaluate every scientific claim," states Dr. Woodbury."In these uncertain times with so many social, scientific, and economic problems, it is not enough to teach our kids what to learn. We must also teach them how to learn, and we must encourage our kids to learn from others. Part of learning from others is to know how to engage in productive debate."The Real Science-4-Kids curriculum, with its engaging, kid-friendly Student Textbooks; Laboratory Notebooks full of real science experiments; and easy to use Teacher's Manuals, provides kids with a solid science education in chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and astronomy. This curriculum is used in all 50 states in the US and many other countries. Dr. Woodbury and her publishing team continue to develop and test new products, including leveled readers and mini books, at the Real Science-4-Kids Albuquerque headquarters.
