Objectives

(5 - 10 minutes)

1. Knowing the Earth and its characteristics:

   • The student will be able to identify and describe the main characteristics of the Earth, including its shape, movements, and location in the solar system.

2. Understanding the Earth's internal structure:

   • The student will be able to describe the three main parts of the Earth's internal structure: the Earth's crust, mantle, and core.

3. Understanding the Earth's external divisions:

   • The student will be able to identify and describe the four main external divisions of the Earth: the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere.

These objectives are the focus of the lesson plan and will guide all activities and discussions. The teacher must ensure that by the end of the lesson, students have acquired these skills.

Introduction

(10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous content:

   • The teacher should start the lesson by briefly reviewing the basic concepts about the planet Earth that students have learned previously, such as its location in the solar system and the fact that it is the only known planet that sustains life.

2. Problem situations:

   • The teacher should then present two problem situations that will arouse students' curiosity and serve as a starting point for the exploration of the topic. The situations can be:
     1. 'If you were an explorer and could dig a hole straight through the Earth, what would you find on your way?'.
     2. 'If the Earth were an apple, what would its internal structure be like?'.

3. Contextualization:

   • The teacher should explain the importance of knowing and understanding the characteristics and structure of the Earth, relating them to everyday phenomena. For example, the influence of the Earth's internal structure on the formation of mountains and volcanoes, and the importance of external divisions for the survival of different forms of life on Earth.

4. Introduction to the topic:

   • To capture students' attention, the teacher should introduce the topic with curiosities or interesting facts. For example:
     1. 'Did you know that the Earth's core is as hot as the surface of the Sun?'.
     2. 'And that the Earth's atmosphere is like a blanket that protects us from the cold of space and the ultraviolet rays of the Sun?'.

With this lesson introduction, students will be ready to explore the characteristics and structure of the Earth more deeply.

Development

(20 - 25 minutes)

Activity 1: 'Sandpit Excavation'

1. Preparation:

   • The teacher should prepare a large sandbox with different colored layers. Each color will represent a part of the Earth's internal structure.

2. Group division:

   • Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 students. Each group will receive a small sandbox with a plastic spoon for 'excavating'.

3. Instructions:

   • The teacher will instruct the groups to slowly start excavating and record the color changes on their paper sheets.

4. Discussion:

   • After all groups finish the excavation, they will present their results to the class and discuss the meaning of the colors.

This activity is playful and allows students to apply their knowledge in a practical way. Students should be engaged and excited to be discovering something.

Activity 2: 'Earth Model'

1. Preparation:

   • For this activity, the teacher can prepare in the classroom a set of different colored and malleable materials, such as clay or modeling clay.

2. Group division:

   • Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 students, and each group will receive the materials.

3. Instructions:

   • The teacher will instruct the groups to build a model of the Earth with the modeling clay, highlighting the different layers that make up the Earth (crust, mantle, and core) and its external divisions (lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere).

4. Presentation:

   • At the end, each group must present their model and explain the parts of the Earth they were able to represent.

This activity will allow students to use their creativity to better understand the concepts presented in the lesson. Additionally, it is a group study method that uses interaction among students for learning.

The teacher can choose any of these activities, according to the available time and materials at hand. Both activities are playful, simple to perform, and consistent with the learning level of elementary school students.

Return

(10 - 15 minutes)

1. Group discussion:

   • The teacher should gather all students in a large circle and invite each group to share their discoveries and conclusions about the activities carried out. Each group must explain what they learned from the activity and how they reached their conclusions. The teacher should encourage students to engage in the discussion, asking questions and expressing their opinions.

2. Connection with theory:

   • After the group discussion, the teacher should review the theory presented at the beginning of the lesson and connect it with the practical activities carried out. For example, the teacher can take one of the models created by the students and use it as an example to explain again the internal and external layers of the Earth. This way, students can visualize and better understand the theoretical concept, making learning more meaningful.

3. Individual reflection:

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher should provide a moment for individual reflection. Students should think about what they learned, how it connects with what they already knew about the Earth, and how they can apply this knowledge in the future. To facilitate this reflection, the teacher can ask two simple questions:
     1. 'What was the most interesting part you learned about the Earth today and why?'.
     2. 'How can you use what you learned today in your daily life?'.

The return is a crucial stage of the lesson plan, as it allows the teacher to verify if the learning objectives were achieved and which concepts need to be reinforced. Additionally, it encourages students to reflect on their own learning process and become more active and autonomous learners.

Conclusion

(5 - 10 minutes)

1. Lesson summary:

   • The teacher should recap the main points covered in the lesson, including the Earth's internal structure (crust, mantle, and core), its external divisions (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere), and how these parts interact to make the Earth a habitable place.

2. Connection between Theory and Practice:

   • The teacher should emphasize how the practical activities helped visualize and understand the theoretical concepts presented. For example, how the 'Sandpit Excavation' activity helped understand the Earth's internal structure, and how the 'Earth Model' activity represented the external divisions.

3. Learning reinforcement:

   • The teacher should reinforce the learning, reminding students how the Earth's structure influences various aspects of our daily lives, from the formation of mountains and volcanoes to the existence of different climates and ecosystems.

4. Additional material:

   • The teacher should suggest additional study materials, such as books, websites, videos, or educational games that address the lesson's topic. This will allow students to explore the topic in greater depth and autonomously.

5. Importance of the Subject:

   • Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of knowing and understanding the Earth's characteristics, reminding students that by understanding how the Earth works, we can work to preserve it and ensure that it continues to be a habitable place for future generations.

This conclusion will allow students to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson, encouraging them to continue learning about the subject and apply the knowledge in their daily lives. Additionally, it reinforces the teacher's role as a facilitator of learning, guiding students on their discovery journey.