Nature's Elements

Spending time outdoors is important for everyone. Exploring nature can be fun, exciting, calming, and giving us all a sense of wonder.

Elemental Kingdom

Let’s explore the four basic elements on our planet:



Water

Water covers about 71% of the earth’s surface. The oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers are filled with all kinds of different species of life. Continents and islands make up the other 29% as landmass.

Human beings and a huge number of other creatures live on land. ALL need water to exist.



Fire

Fire – oh wow! This is hot stuff! Take Magma, for example. Magma is a layer of extremely hot liquid rock that shows up like fire when a volcano erupts. How about Lightning? This is a giant spark of electricity that forms between the atmosphere and the ground. Thunder is the booming echo we hear when lightning strikes. Fire can be very beneficial, giving us heat and energy. It can be destructive, too, like forest fires and homes burning down. We all must be VERY careful with fire!



Earth

This is the fertile stuff for plants to grow in and for all beings to walk, crawl, slither, and move upon. Many creatures find places in the soil to make a home or habitat of some kind. Worms, grubs, and all sorts of little beings spend their lives tunneling around down there helping to bring air and nutrients into the making it healthy and fertile



Air

Air is part nitrogen and oxygen. Air is another necessary element no one can do without. Some of the oxygen comes from plant life in the oceans. Some of it comes from the trees in the forests. Trees and other plants release oxygen as a byproduct from process called photosynthesis. We all need air to live.