hello earth

Describing Our Planet-Map
A map is a two dimensional description of a specific area of land. Maps describe in a visual or graphic format certain key features of the territory being examined.

Latitude (shown as a horizontal line) is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds of a point north or south of the Equator. Lines of latitude are often referred to as parallels.
Longitude (shown as a vertical line) is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds, of a point east or west of the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian. Lines of longitude are often referred to as meridians.

Our Atmosphere
The atmosphere of our home planet is made up of three primary gases. These gases are oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. In addition to these three gases, there are many other gases in the atmosphere, in trace or small amounts. Additionally there are small particles, or particulates floating in the atmosphere, such as dust, water, and pollen

The Earth’s atmosphere extends outward to a distance of approximately 6,000 miles. However, the bulk of that atmosphere is compressed into the first 16 miles. The higher that one travels the less compressed the atmosphere becomes, and the less pressure there is exerted on the items it that atmosphere. Imagine that you are swimming in a giant pool of steel marbles. The deeper you go into the marbles the heavier the marbles become. This is because there are more marbles on top of you, and more weight pushing down on your body. The higher you go, the lighter they become.

Gases That Affect Our Weather
Most of the gases in our atmosphere have little to no affect on our weather patterns. However, a few gases have a significant effect on the weather that we experience around the world. Carbon dioxide is one of these gases. The gas known as carbon dioxide has the unique characteristic of absorbing infrared radiation, or the heat sent to the Earth by the Sun.

Water Affects Our Weather
Water vapor is also an important gas to consider when studying the atmosphere. The amount of water vapor found in the air remains constant on average, however, it can vary greatly from one place to another.

Why Is The Sky A Light Shade of Baby Blue?
The Earth’s atmosphere is filled with trillions of tiny dust particles. Most of these particles or particulates are too small to be seen with the human eye. The smallest particulates are by coincidence the same length as the wavelength of blue light.

Weather and Climate
Weather is the combined short-term conditions found in the lower atmosphere.
Climate on the other hand refers to long-term atmospheric conditions.

The Earth's Biosphere
The biosphere is the defined as the sphere or area around the planet Earth where life exists. This zone of life is vast. Most life forms live on, or near the surface of Earth. However, some live deep within the hydrosphere (oceans, lakes, and streams), while others thrive in the depths of the lithosphere (solid portion of Earth). For this reason, mapping the exact borders of the biosphere is quite challenging.

Love Our Earth
Know Our Earth

COLOR OF THE WIND -by VANESSA WILLIAMS
People are not the only creatures that have the right to live on the earth. All the plants and animals share the planet with us. We should rely on each other and keep the world harmonious. The following song is from the Disney movie ”Pocahontas”(风中奇缘 1995).
Now listen to the song- Color Of the Wind by Vanessa
Williams, and fill in the blanks with the missing words.
Viewing, Listening & Speaking
Fun Time
Book3-Unit 7

You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and ________
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the__________ of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Have you ever heard the_________ cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you __________ with all the colors of the wind?
Viewing, Listening & Speaking
Fun Time
Book3-Unit 7

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sunsweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're ______
The__________ and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all ___________ to each other
In a circle, in a__________ that never ends
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or let the Eagle tell you where he's been?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind
Viewing, Listening & Speaking
Fun Time
Book3-Unit 7

How high will the sycamore ____________?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
You can own the Earth and still
All you'll own is Earth ________
You can paint with all the colors of the wind.
Viewing, Listening & Speaking
Fun Time
Book3-Unit 7

You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Viewing, Listening & Speaking
Fun Time
Book3-Unit 7