Earth materials including soils, rocks, minerals, water, and gases of the atmosphere provide shelter, water, and nutrients that are essential for survival. Soils are formed from weathered rocks, water, and decomposed organic material and have different properties in each layer. Rocks come in various types including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks which are formed by different geological processes. Minerals are the basic building blocks and can be found in different shapes, sizes, and combinations. Water exists on Earth as a solid, liquid, and gas and is critical for all life as it covers 70% of the planet. Gases in the atmosphere like nitrogen and oxygen are essential but only make up a small fraction.