Tectonic Plates

Tectonic plates are big sections of the Earth’s crust… it’s actually broken into pieces, and the pieces move. Earthquake! Learn more about the tectonic plates… the reason for mountains, earthquakes, the movement of continents, and more… (more…)

Inside Earth: Core, Mantle, Crust

What’s the inside of the Earth like? How do we know? Read about the planet you live on, and what goes on inside… (more…)

Earth’s Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the air we breathe… the weather… and a protective shell around the Earth. So learn more about Earth’s atmosphere… (more…)

Nitrogen Cycle

Here’s another important cycle in the Earth’s system–nitrogen! Nitrogen’s in the air, in plants, in the soil. It’s important to every living thing. So, learn more about it… (more…)

Water Cycle

The water cycle is how water moves through Earth’s systems… from the rain, through the oceans, into plants and animals, even in the air… water is everywhere! Explore the water cycle with animations and more… (more…)

The Solar System

The solar system is our little part of the universe… learn more about where Earth is. (more…)

Carbon Cycle

Carbon moves through the Earth. It’s part of the air, and it’s part of all the plants and animals, including us! The carbon cycle is one of the important Earth systems to understand. Learn more: (more…)

The Greenhouse Effect

The “greenhouse effect” is the basic idea behind global warming…that gases and water vapor in the air keep heat inside the Earth’s atmosphere and make the Earth warmer. How does it work? What does it mean to you? Learn more: (more…)

Compasses and Magnetic North

What is a compass? Why does the needle on a compass point to the North Pole? Learn more about the magnetism of the Earth and compasses: (more…)

Energy in Earth’s Systems

Earth has a number of systems… water, nitrogen, carbon, light, and heat all move through cycles in the Earth. Learn more about energy in Earth’s systems. (more…)