Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

The main objectives of this lesson are:

1. To provide students with an overview of the Earth, highlighting its importance as our home and the only known planet that sustains life.
2. To introduce the internal structure of the Earth, explaining its main components: Earth's crust, mantle, and core.
3. To explain the external divisions of the Earth: lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere, highlighting their functions and importance for life on the planet.

Secondary Objectives:

• To stimulate students' curiosity and interest in studying our planet, encouraging questions and discussions.
• To raise awareness about the importance of taking care of our planet and the need to preserve the environment.
• To develop active listening skills and understanding of complex scientific concepts presented in a simple and playful way.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

• The teacher starts the lesson by reviewing previous content related to the science subject, such as the solar system and planets, reinforcing basic concepts about the Earth and its position in the solar system. This review will be done through questions directed at the students and brief discussions, encouraging them to recall and share what they have already learned.

• Next, the teacher proposes two problematic situations to engage students in the subject that will be addressed:

  1. "Imagine you are space explorers and have just landed on an unknown planet. What are the things you would look for to find out if this planet is similar to Earth and could sustain life?"
  2. "Suppose you are scientists and need to explain to a young child what the Earth is like on the inside. How would you do this in an easy-to-understand way?"

• The teacher contextualizes the importance of studying Earth's Characteristics, emphasizing how this knowledge is useful in various areas of daily and professional life, from understanding weather news to space exploration and the search for life on other planets.

• To introduce the topic and capture the students' attention, the teacher presents some curiosities about the Earth:

  1. "Did you know that Earth is the only planet we know that has life? There are many planets out there, but so far, Earth is the only one we know that has liquid water on the surface, a breathable atmosphere, and a biosphere full of life!"
  2. "Do you know what's inside the Earth? It's not empty inside, nor is it full of lava! In fact, it is composed of several layers, like an egg or an onion, each with its own characteristics and importance. Let's find out more about this today!"

• The teacher then introduces the lesson topic: "Earth's Characteristics," explaining that they will learn more about our planet, both inside and out.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

• The teacher begins this stage by presenting the concept of Earth's internal structure in an expository manner, using illustrations, three-dimensional models, animated images, or short videos to facilitate understanding. The teaching material to be used will be chosen according to the school's available infrastructure and the students' visualization capacity.

• At this point, the teacher should address the following topics:

  1. Earth's Crust: the teacher explains that the Earth's crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, where we live. An analogy with an eggshell can be used to explain its protective function. The teacher may mention that the Earth's crust is formed by various types of rocks and minerals.

  2. Mantle: continuing with the description, the teacher presents the mantle as the second layer of the Earth. An analogy with the filling of a pie could be useful to explain that the mantle is the largest layer of the Earth, mainly composed of hot rocks that move slowly.

  3. Core: finally, the teacher explains that the core is the innermost layer of the Earth, mainly composed of iron and nickel. Here, a comparison with an egg yolk can be useful to explain that the core is the "heart" of the Earth, responsible for the planet's magnetic field.

• After this theoretical introduction, the teacher engages in a dialogue with the students to clarify any doubts and confirm their understanding of the content. Students should be encouraged to ask questions and to go beyond what was presented, stimulating their curiosity on the subject.

• Next, the teacher starts the second part of the Development by addressing the Earth's external divisions. For this, the teacher may use images, posters, or even drawings on the board, encouraging students' active participation. The concepts should be presented in the following order:

  1. Lithosphere: the teacher explains that the lithosphere includes the crust and the upper part of the mantle, forming the Earth's "hard skin" where we find mountains, valleys, deserts, and oceans. It is where phenomena like earthquakes and volcanoes occur.

  2. Hydrosphere: the teacher presents the hydrosphere as the part of our planet composed of water. This includes oceans, rivers, lakes, and also water in the atmosphere.

  3. Biosphere: this is described as the 'layer of life' that includes all living beings, humans, animals, plants, microorganisms that exist on land, in water, and in the air.

  4. Atmosphere: finally, the teacher explains that the atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds the Earth, protecting it from the cold of space, solar radiation, and allowing life as we know it.

• Again, after the theoretical introduction of this part, the teacher gives space for students to express their doubts and share what they understood from the content. Questions like: "Why do you think it is important to understand how the Earth is formed?" can help stimulate critical thinking and engagement with the content.

• The teacher should always maintain a welcoming and fun environment, using simple, clear, and didactic language, appropriate to the understanding level of 3rd-grade elementary school students, being patient and empathetic with any difficulties they may have in understanding the presented concepts.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

• After the learning activities and discussions, the teacher gathers the whole class for a group discussion. The purpose of this discussion is to share each group's conclusions and promote a common understanding of the Earth's structure and characteristics. Each group will have the chance to present the answers they found to the raised questions.

• At this point, the teacher should facilitate the conversation, encouraging all students to participate and listen actively. The teacher should acknowledge each student's contributions, fostering an environment of respect and collaboration.

• The teacher can ask questions like: "What was the most interesting part you discovered about the Earth?" or "How would you explain the Earth's internal structure to a friend who wasn't in our class today?". These questions help reinforce learning and encourage students' oral expression.

• Next, the teacher will connect the students' discoveries with the theory presented earlier. The teacher can do this by asking questions like: "How does the lithosphere relate to the Earth's crust that we discussed?" or "How does the atmosphere protect the biosphere?".

• The teacher should also take this opportunity to correct any misunderstandings or incorrect information that may have arisen during the discussion. It is important that the teacher does this in an encouraging manner, emphasizing that making mistakes is part of the learning process.

• To conclude the lesson, the teacher proposes a moment of silent reflection, where students are invited to think about what they have learned. Two simple questions are suggested for this reflection:

  1. "What was the most important thing you learned about the Earth today?"
  2. "How can what you learned today help you better understand the world around you?"

• After a minute of silent reflection, students are invited to share their answers with the class, if they feel comfortable.

• Finally, the teacher thanks everyone for their participation and reinforces the importance of what was learned, encouraging students to continue exploring and learning about our incredible planet Earth.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

• The teacher begins the conclusion by recalling the main points of the lesson. The concepts of Earth's internal structure (crust, mantle, and core) and its external divisions (lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere) are highlighted, using the analogies and images presented during the lesson to reinforce students' understanding.

• The teacher emphasizes how the lesson connected theory, practice, and applications, mentioning again the problematic situations proposed during the Introduction and how the acquired knowledge would help solve them. It is mentioned how the knowledge of Earth's structure and characteristics is relevant in various areas of daily life, from understanding natural phenomena to space exploration.

• To complement the learning, the teacher suggests extra materials for study. Children's books on the topic, educational websites with interactive games, and animated videos that explain the Earth's structure in a fun and easy-to-understand way can be recommended. The teacher may also suggest practical activities to be done at home, such as drawing a model of the Earth with its internal and external layers or observing and recording the different ways in which the Earth's external layers manifest in the surrounding environment.

• The teacher concludes the lesson by emphasizing the importance of the topic for students' daily lives. It is explained that understanding the structure and characteristics of the Earth is fundamental to understanding the world we live in and our responsibility to take care of it. It is said that each component of the Earth plays a crucial role in maintaining life and that the balance between these components is what makes our planet special.

• Lastly, the teacher encourages students to continue exploring the topic, reminding them that knowledge is a great adventure. Praise is given for everyone's participation and curiosity during the lesson, and it is reinforced that each question and discovery is an important step in the learning process.

• With a final invitation for students to express their final doubts, the teacher concludes the lesson, leaving a positive atmosphere of accomplishment and anticipation for future discoveries.