Use a PowerPoint presentation to teach students about the Earth's atmosphere. Students then create a model of the atmosphere using construction paper.

Students will be able to tell what the atmosphere and what the most common gases are that make it up; they will also be able to describe the layers of the atmosphere.

1. Begin by explaining that the atmosphere is a thin layer of gases extending from the Earth's surface out many thousands of miles. It forms a kind of blanket around the Earth keeping extreme temperatures out and the necessary warmth to survive in.

2. The atmosphere is also important for another reason: it contains the air we breathe. Ask students if they know what gas (oxygen) we breathe. The atmosphere contains this gas and several others, though the gas that makes up most of the air we breathe is nitrogen. The atmosphere is approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.

3. Explain that the Earth's atmosphere is divided into several layers. Feel free to download and use the diagram (it is in the Public Domain) of the layers at the right to help teach them.

• The first layer of the atmosphere is called the Troposhpere. This is the layer closest to the Earth and the one we live in. The Troposphere is where weather and cloud formation occur, and the higher you go in this layer, the cooler the air becomes.
• The Stratosphere is the next layer. Explain that the stratosphere is a very important layer in the atmosphere and it contains the oxygen we breathe to survive. The ozone layer, a form of oxygen, can also be found in the stratosphere. The temperature in this layer increases with height.
• After the stratsosphere is the mesosphere. This layer is where most meteors burn up when entering the atmosphere.
• The thermosphere is the layer known as the upper atmosphere.
• The exosphere is the upper most layer of the atmosphere. This is the layer of the atmosphere where satellites orbit the earth.

After providing students with the introduction above, have them do a little research on their own. They can use what they find out to create a 2-D model of the atmosphere using different colors of construction paper. Students can cut the paper into strips of different thicknesses, each proportional to the thickness of the layer it represents. They then tape or stick the construction paper to a poster and write short descriptions of each layer on the construction paper that represent it.

• Take a quiz: Geography4Kids has section on the atmosphere and a quiz that your students can take after they have looked at the site.
• Learn more about the atmosphere: The National Weather Service has a site with more information. You can find an interactive diagram at Earthguide.
• Learn about the greenhouse effect - The greenhouse effect helps keep the earth warm. Learn how the gases in the atmosphere help keep warmth on the earth. Earthguide has an interactive animation of the greenhouse effect.
• Play some weather games: The Weather Channel has some weather games for kids.

Photos like the ones above can be found at:

• NASA Images - Type Blue Marble in the search box to get pictures of the Earth from space. All images are copyright free.