Contextualization

We are born, grow up and live on an amazing planet called Earth. But have you ever stopped to think about our planet, its shape, its composition and everything that exists on it? Our plan is just that: to take a deep dive into the study of the Earth and understand some of its most important features.

Introduction

Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only one known to harbor life. Its shape is that of an oblate spheroid, it is rounded, but slightly flattened at the poles and slightly swollen at the equator. This shape is a result of the rotation of the Earth and its gravity. Most of the Earth's surface (about 70%) is covered in water, which is divided into oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. The solid part of the Earth's surface, where we live, is divided into continents. There are 7 continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.

Context

The study of the Earth is essential for understanding our environment and how it influences and is influenced by human beings. The structure and processes of our planet have a direct impact on our lives, from the weather and climate to the availability of natural resources and the diversity of life. Understanding the Earth is key to addressing many of today's global challenges, such as climate change, the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of natural resources.

Practical Activity: "Exploring the Earth"

Aim of the project

The aim of this project is to deepen students' understanding of the Earth, its shape, its physical characteristics and the division into continents and oceans. All this learning will be done in a practical way, through the creation of a three-dimensional model of the Earth, highlighting its main characteristics.

Project description

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5, must build a three-dimensional model of the Earth. This model must present characteristics such as the spherical shape of the planet, its division into continents and oceans and, if possible, details such as mountains and rivers. The material to be used is up to the group to choose, however, we suggest papier-mâché, polystyrene balls or clay.

Students will research, apply and discuss theoretical concepts covered in class to create the model. In addition to the model, each group must prepare a report describing the project, the concepts used and the conclusions reached.

Materials required

It will depend on the material chosen for the construction of the globe, but some recommended materials are:

• Polystyrene balls or balloons (to serve as the base for the globe)
• Papier-mâché or clay
• Paints of various colors
• Brushes
• Toothpicks (for finer details)
• Physical and political maps for reference

Step by step

1. Students should begin by researching the characteristics of the Earth. They should analyze maps and globes, as well as reliable online resources. It is important to explore the concepts of the Earth's sphericity and its division into continents and oceans.

2. Based on the research carried out, the students start creating their model of the Earth. If papier-mâché or clay is used, they should mold the spherical shape of the Earth. If they choose the polystyrene ball, they can go straight to painting.

3. After modeling, students should paint the model according to the characteristics of the Earth: the oceans and continents, the mountains and valleys, the deserts and forests.

4. Throughout the process, students should document their activities, describing in a logbook their decisions, challenges and successes. These notes will be useful in the next step.

5. With the finalized model and the completed logbook, the students should write the final project report. The report should contain:

   • Introduction: Context of the topic, relevance and objective of the project.
   • Development: Theory behind the key concepts of the project (sphericity of the Earth and its division into continents and oceans), detailed description of the project, methodology used and results obtained.
   • Conclusion: Recapitulation of the main points, lessons learned and conclusions about the project.
   • Bibliography: References to all sources of information used in the project.

This project should be carried out over the course of a month, with an estimated 5 to 10 hours of dedicated work per student.