This Earth's four spheres set teaches the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere as one connected system, for children aged 7 to 11. I wrote it around the question my son and I started with, "Where is water?", because following water is the clearest way to show that the spheres overlap. It is a 21-page PDF.

What's included

• 5 three-part cards and 5 description cards – the title card plus one for each sphere

• A4 control chart and A4 work chart – the work chart comes with cut-out pictures and labels

• 24 picture sorting cards – six per sphere, with the answer on the reverse, plus four header labels

• 18 lesson guide cards – a scripted presentation for the adult, with three follow-up activities

• 3 worksheets – Sphere Overlap Identification, Four Spheres of Water Hunt, and Follow a Drop of Water

Key details

• Format: PDF, 21 pages

• Age range: 7–11 years

• Curriculum alignment: Montessori cosmic education and earth science; supports NGSS 2-ESS2-3 and 5-ESS2-1

• Printing: Designed on A4; prints on US Letter with "fit to page"; print the sorting pages double-sided

• Delivery: Digital download straight after purchase; nothing is shipped

Who this is for

Homeschooling parents who want a lesson they can present without writing their own notes, and elementary teachers introducing Earth systems before the water cycle. It sits well alongside our Properties of Water cards.

Download Earth's System of Four Spheres and present the first lesson this week.

What's included

• 11 three-part cards plus a title set – a control card, picture card and label for each property

• 11 description cards plus a title card – a short explanation of each property, written for a child to read

• 4 blank description cards – for your child's own writing and drawing

• 1 A4 control chart – all eleven properties on one landscape page

The set covers mass and space, transparency, water as a solvent, flow, surface tension, density, no fixed shape, adhesion, cohesion, the three states and capillary action. The later cards build on the earlier ones: capillary action is explained through adhesion and cohesion, so the order of presentation matters.

Key details

• Format: PDF, 11 pages

• Age range: 6–11 years

• Curriculum alignment: Montessori elementary physical science; supports NGSS 2-PS1-1 and 5-PS1-3

• Printing: Designed on A4; prints on US Letter with "fit to page"; laminate for durability

• Delivery: Digital download straight after purchase; nothing is shipped

Who this is for

Homeschooling families following a Montessori science sequence, and elementary teachers who want a ready shelf work on matter. It pairs naturally with a water table, a few jugs and a handful of simple demonstrations.

Download the Properties of Water set and have it on your shelf this week.