Atmosphere Systems Reading Packet
Supported Reading Edition Standards: RI.5.1 • RI.5.2
Earth’s Spheres & Wind Systems
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Date: Score:
Guided Close-Reading • Highlight key words and read each section step by step.
15 Target Words
Section 1: Earth’s Four Spheres (Systems)
Planet Earth works like one giant team. Scientists divide Earth into four parts called spheres:
- • Geosphere: The solid, rocky land, rocks, soil, and ground under our feet.
- • Hydrosphere: All the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and ice.
- • Atmosphere: The blanket of air and gases surrounding our planet.
- • Biosphere: All living things on Earth, including humans, animals, and plants.
Section 2: The Water Cycle Connects the Spheres
The Sun warms the Earth and keeps water moving through all four spheres in a repeating loop:
1. Evaporation: Liquid water in oceans warms up and turns into rising water vapor gas.
2. Transpiration: Living plants in the biosphere release extra water vapor from their leaves.
3. Condensation: Cool air high up causes water vapor to turn back into droplets and form clouds.
4. Precipitation: Heavy droplets fall back to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Section 3: Global Winds (Big Planetary Air Belts)
The Sun shines directly on the warm equator, but shines weakly on the icy poles. This unequal heating creates global winds. Warm air rises near the equator and cold air sinks near the poles. As Earth spins, winds curve into three large belts:
• Trade Winds Warm winds blowing from east to west near the equator.
• Westerlies Winds blowing from west to east across North America.
• Polar Easterlies Freezing winds blowing from east to west away from the poles.
Section 4: Local Winds (Coastal Breezes)
Local winds blow over short distances. They happen because solid land heats up and cools down faster than water.
Daytime: Sea Breeze The land gets hotter than the ocean. Warm air rises over land. Cool air blows in from the water to take its place.
Nighttime: Land Breeze The land cools down faster than the ocean. Air over the ocean is now warmer and rises. Cool air blows out from the land.
Scaffolded Reading Packet • Grade 5 Science Page 1 of 4 • Supported Passage
Vocabulary Laboratory
Word Bank & Visual Guides
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Date:
A Part 1: Match with Clue Words
Choose from the Word Bank below
Geosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere Evaporation Transpiration Condensation Precipitation
: All water, oceans, lakes, and ice [Clue: Water]
: The air and gases around Earth [Clue: Air]
: Water vapor leaving plant leaves [Clue: Plants]
: Liquid water heating into vapor [Clue: Heating]
: Solid rocks, soil, and ground [Clue: Land]
: Water vapor cooling to form clouds [Clue: Clouds]
: All living plants, animals, and people [Clue: Life]
: Rain, snow, or hail falling down [Clue: Falling]
B Part 2: Global Wind Belts Explorer
Fill in the missing words
| Wind Term | Where It Blows | Direction | Temperature / Weather |
|---|
| Trade Winds | Near the equator (0°–30°) | East to West | Warm tropical winds |
| Westerlies | Middle latitudes (30°–60°) | West to East | Moves USA weather systems |
| Polar Easterlies | Near the North/South Poles | East to West | Freezing, cold polar air |
Guided Sentence: Complete the sentence using rises or sinks:
Global winds form because warm air at the equator , while cold air at the poles .
C Part 3: Local Winds • Sea Breeze vs. Land Breeze
Circle the correct word in parentheses
Daytime: Sea Breeze Ocean ➔ Land
• In the day, the land is (warmer / colder) than the water.
• Warm air over the land (rises / sinks) into the sky.
• Cool air blows in from the (ocean / mountain) to make a Sea Breeze.
Nighttime: Land Breeze Land ➔ Ocean
• At night, the land gets (colder / hotter) than the water.
• Warm air over the water (rises / sinks) into the sky.
• Cool air blows out from the (land / clouds) to make a Land Breeze.
Scaffolded Vocabulary Mastery & Guided Choice Practice Page 2 of 4 • Vocabulary Lab
Reading Standards Mastery
Quoting Text Evidence & Main Ideas
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Date:
RI.5.1
Quote the Text Directly with Sentence Starters
1. [Explicit Fact] How do plants in the biosphere add water into the atmosphere?
Sentence Starter: Plants add water to the air by .
Quote Frame (Copy exact words from Section 2):
The author writes, “”
2. [Making Inferences] Why does a beach feel warm in the afternoon, but cooler when you walk on it at night?
My Inference: I can infer that at night the beach cools down because .
Text Evidence (Quote from Section 4):
The text states, “”
RI.5.2
Two Main Ideas & Key Supporting Details
Main Idea 1: Spheres in Motion
"Earth's four spheres share matter and energy through cycles like the water cycle."
Key Details (Fill in blanks):
• Detail A: Ocean water warms and turns to vapor through (evaporation / wind).
• Detail B: Cooling vapor forms clouds through (precipitation / condensation).
Main Idea 2: Solar Energy & Winds
"Unequal heating from the Sun creates both large global winds and small local breezes."
Key Details (Fill in blanks):
• Detail A: Unequal heating between equator and poles causes global .
• Detail B: Temperature differences between coast and sea cause a sea .
RI.5.2
Guided Summary Frame
Complete the summary paragraph
Use words from the box to complete the summary:
spheres water cycle global winds local breezes
In this text, we learn that Earth has four connected . Solar energy moves moisture through the , connecting water, air, land, and life. In addition, unequal heating by the Sun creates large planetary and small coastal .
Common Core State Standards • RI.5.1 & RI.5.2 Mastery Page 3 of 4 • Standards Organizers
Standards Quick Check
Multiple-Choice Assessment
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Date:
Directions: Read each question carefully. Bubble in the letter of the single best answer. 5 Questions • 20 Pts Each
RI.5.1
1. Which sentence from Section 2 directly explains how plants in the biosphere add moisture to the air?
A “Planet Earth works like one giant team.”
B “Living plants in the biosphere release extra water vapor from their leaves.”
C “Liquid water in oceans warms up and turns into rising water vapor gas.”
D “Heavy droplets fall back to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.”
RI.5.1
2. Based on Section 4, what can you infer about the air above the ocean during the day?
A The air over the ocean is cooler and denser than the air over the hot land.
B The air over the ocean is boiling hot and blows straight up into space.
C The ocean air completely stops moving as soon as the Sun shines.
D The air over the ocean turns into freezing polar easterlies.
RI.5.2
3. Which statement best expresses a main idea of the entire informational passage?
A The geosphere is the only sphere that humans need to study.
B Westerlies are the only winds that blow across the planet.
C Earth’s spheres interact constantly as solar energy drives the water cycle and winds.
D Sea breezes and land breezes only happen during cold winter months.
Science
4. Which global wind belt flows from west to east and steers weather across North America?
A Trade Winds
B Westerlies
C Polar Easterlies
D Land Breezes
RI.5.2
5. Which is the best summary sentence for Section 3 (Global Winds)?
A The Sun's unequal heating causes air to circulate into three large planetary wind belts.
B Water evaporates from oceans and falls as rain across tropical islands.
C Beaches are warmer during the day and cooler at night because of the sand.
D The poles never receive any sunlight at all during the year.
Common Core State Standards & Next Generation Science Standards Page 4 of 4 • Multiple-Choice Assessment
Atmosphere Systems Answer Key
Teacher Reference Standards: RI.5.1 • RI.5.2 • 5-ESS2-1
Atmosphere Systems Answer Key
Educator Guide
Grading & Scoring Matrix
Solutions for Student Packet Page 2 (Vocabulary Laboratory & Wind Explorer)
Total Points: 40 pts
A Part 1: Earth Spheres & Water Cycle Key (16 pts • 2 pts each)
Expected student answers
Hydrosphere: All water, oceans, lakes, and ice [Clue: Water]
Atmosphere: The air and gases around Earth [Clue: Air]
Transpiration: Water vapor leaving plant leaves [Clue: Plants]
Evaporation: Liquid water heating into vapor [Clue: Heating]
Geosphere: Solid rocks, soil, and ground [Clue: Land]
Condensation: Water vapor cooling to form clouds [Clue: Clouds]
Biosphere: All living plants, animals, people [Clue: Life]
Precipitation: Rain, snow, or hail falling down [Clue: Falling]
B Part 2: Global Wind Belts Key (12 pts)
Planetary patterns & formation
Trade Winds 0°–30° N/S • East to West • Warm tropical winds
Westerlies 30°–60° N/S • West to East • Moves North American weather
Polar Easterlies 60°–90° N/S • East to West • Freezing polar air
Guided Sentence Answer: "Global winds form because warm air at the equator rises, while cold air at the poles sinks."
C Part 3: Local Coastal Winds Key (12 pts • 2 pts each choice)
Day & Night cycles
Daytime: Sea Breeze
• Warmer in the day: warmer (land heats faster)
• Warm air movement: rises over land
• Wind origin: cool air blows in from the ocean
Nighttime: Land Breeze
• Land at night gets: colder (radiates heat fast)
• Warm air movement: rises over water
• Wind origin: cool air blows out from the land
Common Student Misconception: Students frequently mix up wind direction terminology. Remind them that winds are named for (a Sea Breeze originates from the sea toward land; Westerlies originate in the west and blow east).
