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Nature is all around us. Nature gives us sunlight, air, water, soil, food, energy, and the beauty of life. It is the reason that we are all here. “Nature” is as old as Earth itself. Our planet and life have undergone continuous evolution over the past 4.54 billion years, since the formation of the solar nebula. The formation of the crust and oceans, as well as the emergence of the earliest microbial life around 3.5 to 4 billion years ago, developed through periods of activity and inactivity.
We are alive in Nature because of the gifts it gives of life on Earth. Without Nature, humans would not, could not, survive. Nature offers us services such as clean air, clean water, food, biodiversity, habitats, and diverse ecosystems. Across continents, oceans, mountains, valleys, plains, forests, grasslands, rivers, and lakes, the world has developed into biomes, each with different topographies, climates, temperatures, precipitation, plants, animals, and insects. The multitude of life on Earth is more complete and complex than we ever imagined.
Activity 1 – Air
Air is all around us. It is a mixture of gases that every living thing needs to live. Air helps us breathe, moves clouds in the sky, and plays a vital role in changing the weather. Air movement initiates water evaporation, cloud formation, and rainfall. Air carries pollen and seeds, helping plants pollinate and spread. Air is made up of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen; 0.03% of the air is carbon dioxide, which is essential because plants use it to make food and release oxygen during photosynthesis. Other gases, such as neon, helium, methane, ozone, and water vapor, are also present in small amounts in air. Air takes up space, has weight, and pressure. When air gets warm, it expands and takes up more space, pushing air around the world, creating and changing weather, and balancing the temperature. Watch the Earth’s Energy Balance as Air helps control the Earth’s temperature by trapping heat and distributing it evenly across the planet, thereby balancing the weather, temperature, and environment.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Be thankful for air!
Activity 2 – Water
Mni Wiconi: Water is life. Water is second only to air. The Earth is covered 74% by water, but that water is in the oceans and is saline or salty. Some of Earth’s water is frozen in glaciers. These can take over 3,000 to 20,000 years to melt and cycle back into the water that evaporates, condenses, precipitates and runs off or is absorbed. Lakes and rivers irrigate landscapes and provide sources of water seeking the lowest level to connect with the oceans. for fish, insects, birds, and all kinds of animals, including us! Life on Earth needs water!
Activity 3 – Evolution of life
Nature has been evolving for over 3.5 to 4 billion years. Take a look at the NEW SCIENTISTS Timeline of Evolution to learn how single-celled organisms developed into multi-celled organisms. It is an incredible story.
3.4-4.5 Billions of years ago Microbial fossils provide early evidence of life on Earth, with rocks bearing single-cell organisms that rapidly developed. emerging into (prokaryotes).
2 billion years ago More complex cells developed into (Eukaryotes)
*1 billion years ago Multi cellular life appeared.
540 million years ago The Cambrian Period exploding with multitudes of different life forms.
Now watch the Evolution of Life on Earth in 60 seconds and create a timeline of which forms of life came first. Draw the microorganisms, the fish, the land plants, the insects, amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, mammals, birds, flowers.
Activity 4 – Nature's Gifts
For there is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds, in the ebb and flow of the tides; in the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in these repeated refrains of Nature. Rachel Carson, Lost Woods
The rise of the sun each morning is a wake-up call that we are alive. The noon sun shining overhead shines down on us charging all living things with energy. The sun moving across the sky invites us to chase the setting sun, calling colors onto the clouds, painting beautiful sunsets.
The dusk sky turns a dark canvas that slowly but surely entices twinkly stars and shining planets connecting us with the past, the present, and the future. Tis a glorious world we live if we can just take a moment to appreciate its gifts.
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