Differentiate Earth's Spheres Station Lab - New TEKS 6.10A

This modular, student-led station lab helps middle school students meet the 2021 TEKS 6.10A standard by exploring the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere. Students will practice differentiating between Earth’s spheres and identifying key components of each system through hands-on, multimodal activities.

The resource is designed to reduce prep time while keeping students actively engaged in directing their own learning. Teachers serve as facilitators, guiding rather than leading every step.

Structure & Differentiation

• Nine stations in total: eight core activities plus a bonus challenge station

• Activities are differentiated to support diverse learners

• Includes all signage, task cards, passages, and resources for easy setup

• The Explore It! station may require simple materials you likely already have in your classroom

This design allows students to work independently or in small groups, creating a flexible, student-centered learning environment.

Station Breakdown

Input Stations (building understanding):

• Explore It! – Hands-on activity or demonstration; digital version includes drag-and-drop interactions in PowerPoint or Google Slides

• Watch It! – Short video with comprehension questions

• Read It! – Differentiated reading passages (English and Spanish) with vocabulary and comprehension questions

• Research It! – Facts, images, and graphs with guided tasks and lab sheet responses

Output Stations (demonstrating knowledge):

• Organize It! – Sorting or categorization with manipulatives or digital tools

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching models to reinforce understanding visually

• Write It! – Short-answer prompts requiring complete-sentence responses

• Assess It! – Task cards and vocabulary-in-context questions to demonstrate mastery

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Enrichment opportunities such as crosswords, games, and mini-projects for early finishers or advanced learners

Virtual & In-Class Use

This lab is designed for both traditional and virtual learning environments. Files are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making it easy to implement across different classroom settings.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.